This archive report was first published on 25 August 2020.
On August 21, 2020, a dramatic scene unfolded on the Greek island of Syros, as Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was escorted by plain-clothes police officers to the local police station.
Maguire, a 27-year-old England international, had been arrested along with his brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman on the nearby island of Mykonos after a brawl in which two police officers were allegedly assaulted.
On Tuesday, a Greek court handed Maguire a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days after finding him guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees, and insult.
Maguire's brother Joe was also found guilty of repeated bodily harm, violence against public employees, and attempted bribery, while Sharman was found guilty of insult, repeated bodily harm, and violence against public employees.
Maguire, who was released from custody over the weekend, was not present at the trial, which was held on the nearby island of Syros.
"Following the hearing today, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing," Maguire said in a statement.
"I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter - if anything myself, family and friends are the victims."
"Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go," a police witness for the prosecution told the bench. Maguire's ill-fated trip to Mykonos followed his club's semi-final defeat by Sevilla in the Europa League in Cologne.
