The chances of Harry Maguire playing at the next World Cup have become uncertain after a Greek appeals court upheld his conviction linked to a 2020 incident in Mykonos. The Manchester United F.C. defender had appealed against charges including assault and attempted bribery but the court dismissed the appeal.
The ruling comes at a time when Maguire is already facing strong competition for a place in the England national football team under manager Thomas Tuchel. Prosecutor Ioannis Paradisis criticised the defender during the hearing, claiming the court did not accept his explanation of the events.
Maguire has always denied wrongdoing, saying he was trying to protect his sister Daisy during the confrontation. The incident happened while he was on holiday in Mykonos with family members. According to him, the situation escalated when men later revealed to be undercover police officers approached them.
The court reduced Maguire’s sentence to 15 months and 20 days with a €1,500 fine. However, the conviction could make travelling for the tournament in the United States and Mexico more complicated because he must declare the conviction when applying for a visa.
