Harry Maguire Found Guilty of Aggravated Assault and Attempted Bribery in Greece

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery by a court in Greece.

The 27-year-old England international, his brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were all found guilty on Tuesday afternoon, and the former was given a sentence of 21 months and ten days – suspended as it was his first offence, and the charges were misdemeanour offences.

His defence claimed that Maguire’s sister, Daisy, was approached by two 'Albanian' men, who injected her with something causing her to immediately faint. Having been taken by a driver to the police station instead of the hospital, it is alleged Maguire was assaulted by police officers.

They are said to have kicked the player on his leg and told him ‘Your career is over’.

One police officer told the court that Maguire had said: "Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go," while his colleague added a recollection of the phrase "Please, let me go, I am very rich, I can pay, I am the leader of Manchester United."

The centre-back's defence lawyer rejected some of the claims made against his client, insisting: "They would never say ‘f--k Greece,’ they love the country, and are keen on the ancient Greek culture."

Maguire was named in Gareth Southgate's first post-lockdown England squad just hours before the guilty verdict, the Three Lions boss saying: "It's clearly a decision that is not straightforward and a decision that, in the end, I can only take on the information I have.

"I've spoken with Harry, I have insight to the story which is very different to what's been reported. In these instances, you can only make decisions based on facts that you're aware of. Now, clearly, if facts or information change further down the line, I have to review that decision."