Harry Maguire Remains Utd Captain As Conviction Is Nullified Upon An Appeal

The conviction Manchester United captain, Harry Maguire has been nullified after he appealed it.

Manchester United intends to stick with Harry Maguire as club captain for the upcoming season. Maguire was handed a 21-month suspended prison sentence on Tuesday after being found guilty by a Greek court of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery.

The 27-year-old was convicted of all the charges against him by a court on the island of Syros. He was arrested with his brother and a friend after a fight broke out while he was on holiday in Mykonos over claims his sister was injected with a suspected “rape drug”.

However, on Wednesday, United confirmed in a statement that Maguire’s legal team had had an appeal accepted, adding:

 “This means that Harry has no criminal record and is once again presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

It is understood no date has yet been set for the appeal and United are aware it could be a number of months before the case is heard again. Maguire has left Greece and is expected to return to Manchester in the coming days.

Following the court’s original verdict, the defender was withdrawn from Gareth Southgate’s England squad, having been initially included for next month’s Nations League matches. Maguire has been withdrawn from England’s squad for next month’s Nations League matches

Maguire was named as United’s permanent captain in January following Ashley Young’s departure. There is no suggestion that Harry Maguire will have the captaincy taken from him. What’s been abundantly clear is Manchester United is backing their man. Manchester United have been as supportive as any club could possibly be in these circumstances.

With Maguire’s team having appealed Tuesday’s verdict, it might not be imminent. This will take some time to happen, but there’s optimism in the Manchester United camp and in the Harry Maguire legal team given the right sort of appeal and preparation.

Initially, they feel they were rushed through the whole court proceedings after being given the evidence the night before the trial started.

See tweet below:

Maguire's conviction for assaulting a police offer and attempted bribery has been nullified after his legal team lodged an appeal, #MUFC have said…

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) August 27, 2020

Harry Maguire has filed an appeal against his conviction for assault and attempted bribery following a brawl on the Greek island of Mykonos.

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) August 27, 2020