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Harry Maguire, center, leaves a court building on the Aegean island of Syros, Greece. Michael Varaklas
Altercation

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire pleads not guilty in Greek court after Mykonos arrest

The £80million defender was arrested late on Thursday.

LAST UPDATE | Aug 22nd 2020, 2:00 PM

MANCHESTER UNITED CAPTAIN Harry Maguire has pleaded not guilty to charges related to an alleged altercation with police on the Greek island of Mykonos.

The 27-year-old centre-back was on holiday in Greece after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side lost to eventual Europa League winners Sevilla in last Sunday’s semi-final in Cologne.

Maguire was arrested on Thursday evening along with two other Britons following an incident in Mykonos, with the world’s most expensive defender appearing in court on Saturday morning.

The case has been adjourned until a hearing on Tuesday and the PA news agency understands defender will now leave Greece.

United said in a statement: “Following the appearance in court today we note the adjournment of the case to allow the legal team to consider the case file.

Harry has pleaded not guilty to the charges. It would be inappropriate for the player or club to comment further while the legal process takes its course.”

Local TV footage showed Maguire leaving a courthouse on neighbouring Syros island — the administrative hub of the Cycladic island group that includes Mykonos — apparently accompanied by members of his legal team, and boarding a dark minivan.

His lawyer Constantinos Darivas had earlier told Greek sports website gazzetta.gr that the England centre-back had denied the charges, and was in “fine condition” despite spending two nights in detention since his Thursday night arrest.

Greek TV channel Mega said Maguire’s father had flown to Greece to be at his son’s side.

The £80 million (€88 million) defender was arrested late Thursday after what Greek police described as an “altercation” between two groups of British tourists on Mykonos.

Mega said Maguire had become enraged after someone in the other group struck his sister.

A Greek police statement on Friday said that three men aged 27, 28 and 29 had been arrested in Mykonos.

The police said an officer was punched on the scene, and that a second fight had broken out at the local police station where the three men “strenuously resisted [arrest], pushing and striking three officers.”

One of the suspects then tried to bribe the officers to hush up the incident, the police said.

The suspects are accused of assault, resisting arrest, verbally insulting and threatening the arresting officers, and attempted bribery, the police said.

Four Mykonos officers sustained slight injuries in the fracas, the authorities said. 

Mykonos is popular with sports stars and celebrities for its all-night nightlife and beaches.

Comments are closed as legal proceedings are ongoing.

- Additional reporting from © – AFP, 2020 

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