Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire has confirmed he will launch a formal appeal to Greece's Supreme Court after a Greek court upheld his previous convictions for assault and attempted bribery. This legal decision comes six years after the initial incident occurred on the island of Mykonos in August 2020.
Legal Battle Continues with Supreme Court Appeal
The court in Greece imposed a 15-month suspended sentence on Wednesday, which represents a reduction from the original 21-month sentence that was handed down in 2020. Maguire's legal team has immediately moved to challenge this latest judgement through the appeal process.
Sources close to the player have revealed that Maguire and his representatives have consistently rejected multiple out-of-court settlement offers, including one that was presented during a recess in Wednesday's hearing. The defender remains steadfast in his commitment to proving his innocence through the judicial system rather than accepting a financial resolution.
Conviction Details and Travel Status
The upheld convictions specifically relate to charges of non-serious assault, resisting arrest, and attempted bribery. These stem from an altercation with police officers during a holiday incident in Mykonos nearly six years ago. According to official reports, Maguire did not attend the recent hearing in person.
Importantly, there are currently no travel restrictions placed on the Manchester United star, which means he remains eligible for selection in both club and international competitions. This includes potential participation in England's upcoming World Cup squad this summer.
Maguire's Account of the Original Incident
While Maguire has not commented publicly since Wednesday's court decision, he previously provided detailed testimony about the 2020 incident in an interview with BBC Sport. The defender described feeling "scared for his life" during the encounter, believing that he and his companions were being kidnapped rather than dealing with legitimate police officers.
"We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us," Maguire recounted. "They were hitting my leg saying my career's over: 'No more football. You won't play again.' And at this point I thought there is no chance these are police or I don't know who they are, so I tried to run away, I was in that much of a panic, fear, scared for my life. All the way through it."
Immediate Football Implications
The timing of this legal development coincides with Manchester United's match schedule, and Maguire remains available for selection in Wednesday evening's Premier League fixture against Newcastle United. The club has been approached for comment regarding the situation but has not yet issued an official statement.
This appeal to Greece's Supreme Court will automatically quash the most recent judgement, mirroring the legal process that occurred when Maguire successfully appealed against his initial conviction in 2020. The defender's determination to clear his name continues to drive this prolonged legal battle across international jurisdictions.
