Sport
Harry Maguire breaks silence over his arrest and conviction in Greece
He was found guilty this week.
Harry Maguire has given his first interview since receiving a suspended prison sentence on the Greek island of Mykonos.
The Manchester United captain was found guilty of assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery following his arrest on the island of Mykonos last Thursday. He was given a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days.
He declared his intentions to appeal immediately and insisted he and his family were the real victims following the incident.
He spent two nights in police custody after his arrest of Thursday and appeared in court in Greece on Saturday morning for a preliminary hearing.
After the hearing, he was allowed to leave the country, however the trial went ahead on Tuesday in his absence and he was found guilty.
The appeal he lodged on Wednesday morning immediately overturned the guilty verdict meaning Maguire is free to travel without restriction.
He spoke to the BBC in his first televised interview last night, where he said he ‘feared for his life’.
He told Dan Roan, BBC Sports editor, that plain-clothed police officers, who did not identify themselves, pulled over his group’s minibus in Mykonos, threw him off the bus, hit him on his legs and told him his career was over.
He added that he tried to run away with one handcuff on as he had no idea who the men were.
Maguire told Roan: “My initial thought was we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees and put our hands in the air.
“And then they just started hitting us. He was hitting me in the leg saying no more football, your career is over, you won’t play again.
“At this point I thought there is no chance these are police – I don’t know who they are – so I tried to run away I was in that much of a panic. Fear. I was scared for my life.”
He also discussed the moment his sister fainted: “These two men approached my little sister and they they asked her where she was from. She responded.
“My fiance saw my little sisters eyes go into the back of her head. She ran over she was fainting in and out of consciousness.”
The emotional interview saw Maguire breakdown and describe the guilty verdict as ‘horrible’, adding that he ‘couldn’t quite believe it’.
He denies throwing any punches or trying to bribe the police, saying: “I don’t feel I owe an apology to anybody.
“An apology is something when you have done something wrong.”
He continued: “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.”
He went on to say his ‘conscience is clear’ adding: “I know what happened that night. I know the truth,”
He said: “When I speak about it I get worked up but that’s because it just makes me feel a bit angry inside. I will move on. I am mentally strong enough.”
Speaking about being captain of United, Maguire said ‘it is a massive privilege’ and that he is likely to remain captain in this season. He added: “It is not my decision to make but the one thing I will say is how supportive the club has been from top to bottom. They have been great with me and I thank them for that.”
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