Harry Maguire given suspended sentence in Greece

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been handed a suspended sentence of 21 months and ten days in prison for his involvement in an incident outside a bar on the Greek island of Mykonos. According to a report from the BBC, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult in a trial on Syros on Tuesday. Also arrested in the incident was Maguire’s brother, Joe, and one other man. All three denied the charges, but were handed suspended sentences.

According to Maguire’s defence, the incident started when the United captain’s sister was injected with an unnamed substance by a third party, whereupon she fainted. Maguire later became aggressive, and, according to the prosecution, attempted to pay his way out of custody.

Maguire will appeal the verdict. A statement put out by United read:

Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence.

It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare. A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied.

On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire’s legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date.

It now remains to be seen whether Maguire will feature in England’s forthcoming Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark. He was named in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad earlier on Tuesday.