Harry Maguire’s retrial in Greece has gone ahead at the fifth attempt as the Manchester United star fights allegations of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and attempted bribery.
Maguire has not appeared at the hearing on the island of Syros as he prepares for United’s game at Newcastle on Wednesday night.
The trial is finally taking place almost six years after the England defender was arrested following a brawl on a family holiday in Mykonos in August 2020 and handed a 21-month suspended sentence.
The conviction was automatically quashed on appeal under Greek law, and a retrial has been postponed no fewer than four times – first in May 2023 because Maguire’s defence counsel was unavailable, then in February 2024 due to the Greek lawyers’ strike, then on two more occasions in March and October last year.
Harry Maguire with his sister Daisy in Mykonos back in 2020 prior to the arrest
There were even doubts that it would take place at all before the statute of limitations took effect after eight years in August 2028.
Maguire, who turns 33 on Thursday, was not required to attend the hearing in person as his lawyers attempt to clear his name.
The player is due to be in United’s squad to face Newcastle at St James’ Park after recovering from an illness that forced him to go off in the second half of Sunday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
