Man U captain given suspended sentence after altercation in Greece

Athens, Aug 25 (efe-epa).- Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months by judges at a Greek court on Tuesday for charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery following an alleged brawl on the island of Mykonos.

Maguire was detained with his brother, Joe, and their friend Chris Sharman during his summer vacation on the Greek island last week.

Judges suspended the sentence as it was the defender’s first misdemeanour.

Manchester United said it would appeal the ruling.

“Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence,” the Premier League club said in a statement.

“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.”

Joe Maguire and Sharman were also found guilty of bodily harm, violence against public employees and attempted bribery and will appeal their convictions, according to media reports.

Maguire’s defense team claimed the trio suspected the player’s sister Daisy had been injected with a rape drug and had asked the driver of their rental car to drive to a health clinic but found themselves being taken to a police station, where the altercation allegedly occurred, according to local media reports from the court.