England football star held in Greece over police assault
HARRY MAGUIRE, the £190,000-aweek Manchester United captain, is potentially facing months in prison if he is charged and convicted of aggravated assault against a police officer.
The England defender, 27, was arrested with two other men in Mykonos early on Thursday after an alleged clash with a group of holidaymakers.
A police officer was allegedly insulted and struck by the group with whom Maguire was socialising as he and his colleagues tried to restore order.
Maguire became the world’s most expensive defender when he moved to Manchester United for £80 million. He now faces his preparations for the new season being thrown into chaos after spending a second night in a cell. He was due to appear this morning before a public prosecutor in Syros, where the three men will answer allegations of aggravated assault and “attempted bribery”.
The Hellenic Police claim the group “turned against” officers when they arrived at the scene of the confrontation, and began hitting one, resulting in them being hauled into custody.
“The three foreigners were taken to Mykonos Police Station, where upon their arrival they strongly resisted, pushing and beating three police officers,” a statement said. “One of the detainees tried to offer money so the trial against them would not be completed.”
It was unclear last night of the extent to which Greek police allege each of the men was involved in the episode, nor whether they were likely to face criminal charges at all. Paul Anast, an Athens-based court expert, told The Daily Telegraph that a charge of aggravated assault could lead to a custodial sentence. “If it was not an accident and it was an aggravated result, it could be two years in jail,” he said. “However, if you are sentenced under two years in Greece, you can immediately appeal and will be released. In theory, [a defendant] can leave the country with this hanging over their head.”
A Greek lawyer said criminal charges for misdemeanours could potentially result in “something minor with a suspended sentence”.
Maguire had been visiting the party island after Manchester United were knocked out of the Europa League semi-final at the weekend. It is unlikely a criminal conviction, if one were to be pursued by authorities, would deal a fatal blow to his England career. In 1990, Tony Adams, the former England and Arsenal captain, returned to represent his country after serving four months in jail for drink-driving.
United, meanwhile, are understood to be trying to establish the circumstances surrounding Maguire’s arrest.
He had been with team-mates Marcus Rashford and Brandon Williams during the day on the island, but they were not believed to have been present later. “The club is aware of an alleged incident involving Harry Maguire in Mykonos last night,” United stated. “Contact has been made with Harry, and he is fully cooperating with the Greek authorities. At this time we will be making no further comment.”
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