Manchester United captain and England international Harry Maguire has recounted his version of the events that led to his arrest in Mykonos, Greece, last week.
Maguire told the BBC that he feared for his life when plain clothes Greek police, who the defender claimed did not identify themselves, arrested him.
The 27-year-old said he thought he was being kidnapped when his group’s minibus was pulled over and he was thrown off and handcuffed. Maguire said in the interview he was hit on the legs before he tried to run away with one handcuff on.
Maguire was given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days in prison after his trial on the Greek island of Syros on Tuesday.
The footballer was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after arrest on Mykonos.
Maguire arrest
On Wednesday, Maguire’s legal team lodged an appeal against the verdict, which, under Greek law, nullifies the conviction. It means a full retrial in a higher court will come.
“I don’t feel I owe an apology to anybody,” said the defender, who signed for United from Leicester City for £80 million last year. “An apology is something when you have done something wrong.”
He added: “I don’t wish it on anybody. Obviously the situation has made it difficult for one of the biggest clubs in the world, so I regret putting the fans and the club through this, but I did nothing wrong.
“I found myself in a situation where it could have happened to anybody and anywhere.”
On Tuesday, Maguire was withdrawn from the England squad for September’s Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark, having initially been named to play by manager Gareth Southgate.
He said: “I love playing for my country. Physically and mentally I am ready to play. I’m disappointed but of course I understand.”
Here is Maguire’s version of events, which has been disputed by Greek police. In court, the prosecution said Maguire, his brother, and his friend verbally and physically attacked officers
- Maguire was on holiday with his fiancee Fern, his younger sister Daisy, his brother and his brother’s girlfriend, as well as two friends and their partners
- The group went out for drinks in Mykonos and later asked their minibus driver to pick them up and take them home
- Maguire said their driver was “20 minutes late” and the group were tired and wanted to go back to their villa
- Two men reportedly approached Daisy and asked her where she was from
- According to Fern, she saw “my little sister’s [Daisy] eyes rolling to the back of her head. She ran over, she was fainting, in an out of consciousness.”
- Maguire said by this point “everyone was shouting and were screaming”, before three Greek men in plain clothes approached
- Maguire said he and his group were not trying to cause an argument or scuffle, but there was a lot of shouting and commotion
- He said there was “no fighting, as has been reported. No punches thrown”
- Maguire said the Greek men appeared to be attempting to calm the situation down but were “a little bit aggressive”
- The minibus arrived and he said his group, including Daisy, got on, and the party asked the driver to take them home
- Maguire said the bus drove for “5-10 minutes” before stopping. It was then surrounded by eight men in plain clothes, according to the star
- It was then Maguire, together with a friend, were taken off the bus and he said the men did not explain the situation to him
- Maguire said he thought he was being kidnapped, so ran to the main road before calling his agent to ask for help, leaving messages on the group WhatsApp
- Maguire said he and his friend returned to the bus where he was surrounded by the men: “We got down on our knees, put our hands in the air. And they just started hitting us. They got one of my hands in the handcuff. They were hitting my legs, saying my career’s over: ‘no more football; you won’t play again’.”
- The star said he didn’t think they were police. He was then taken to a police station
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2YL1ljA
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