Harry Maguire given retrial date for assault charges in Greece
Harry Maguire's retrial for charges of assault and attempted bribery will be held on 7 February 2024, almost three-and-a-half years after his arrest in Greece.
The 30-year-old was found guilty of assaulting a police officer while on a family holiday on the island of Mykonos in August 2020 and was also charged with attempted bribery.
Maguire was further charged with resisting arrest and was handed a suspended jail sentence of 21 months and ten days after a trial on the island of Syros.
His legal team immediately launched an appeal against the conviction, which under Greek law meant he was deemed as innocent until proven guilty.
The date for Maguire's retrial has now been set after being pushed back at the request of the Manchester United and England defender's legal representatives, though it's unlikely he will appear in person as it falls during the 2023/24 season.
"My initial thought, I thought we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us," Maguire told the BBC in August 2020 of his arrest by Greek police.
"They were hitting my leg saying my career's over: 'No more football. You won't play again'.
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"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.
He added: "It was horrible. It's not something I ever want to do again. I don't wish it on anybody. It's the first time I've ever been inside a prison.
"I don't feel like I owe an apology to anybody. An apology is something when you've done something wrong or regret. I regret being in the situation. I play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, I regret putting the fans and the club through this.
"I think it could have happened anywhere. I love Greece, I think us footballers get a bit of stick for trying to stay away from everything. It's not how I want to live my life."
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