Wales in turmoil after Giggs has bail extended

Welsh preparations for the European Championship have been thrown into turmoil after manager Ryan Giggs had his bail extended until May 1, only six weeks before their first game of the tournament.

Giggs was arrested on suspicion of assault in November, leading to him stepping aside from his country’s three matches that month.

The Football Association of Wales will now have to make a decision over who takes charge for their fixtures in March, which include World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and the Czech Republic.

Assistant manager Robert Page stepped in last year and the expectation is that he will be asked to do so again. However, the situation is not helped by the uncertainty at the top of the FAW, where chief executive Jonathan Ford was this week the subject of a vote of no confidence.

The FAW will now have to make a decision on how to proceed, with their opening Euro 2020 match against Switzerland due to take place on June 12.

In a statement yesterday, a Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “A 46-year-old man (now aged 47) arrested on suspicion of section 39 common assault and section 47 assault in November 2020 has had his bail extended until Saturday 1 May 2021. This relates to an incident reported to police at 10.05pm on Sunday Nov 1 2020 on Chatsworth Road, Worsley. A file remains with the CPS and a decision is expected in due course.”

Giggs’s representatives also released a statement denying the claims. It said: “Mr Giggs denies all allegations made against him. He is cooperating with the police and will continue to assist them with their ongoing investigations.”