England star Harry Maguire is finally set to receive a date for his appeal case as he bids to clear his name in the Greek courts following his conviction in August 2020.
The Manchester United captain was arrested following an incident on the isle of Mykonos which saw him convicted of assaulting police officers. Maguire was also found guilty of swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery and was handed a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for three years.
The incident is said to have occurred after two men targeted Maguire's younger sister, Daisy. He claims they lashed out at him as he took Daisy to hospital after she had allegedly been injected with a drug by strangers at a bar.
Maguire's older brother Joe had been accused of assault and attempted bribery, with the pair's friend Christopher Sharman accused of assault and verbal abuse. All three were found guilty of all charges, with brother Joe and co-accused Sharman receiving 13 month prison sentences, also suspended for three years.
Maguire appealed the decision but has faced an agonising wait for a retrial. The Sun now claim that a court date will be set for late spring or early summer next year on the island of Syros, which is where appeals are heard.
It means the United centre-half can concentrate on not only a new era at club level under new boss Erik Ten Hag, but also focus on the World Cup which takes place in winter in Qatar. Maguire played a pivotal role in England's charge to the World Cup semi-final four years ago and last summer's exploits in reaching the European Championship final on home soil.
Maguire, 29, conducted an interview with the BBC just days after the Mykonos incident, in which he said he feared for his life during the episode. "I did nothing wrong," he said. "I thought we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us. They were hitting my leg saying my career is over, 'No more football. You won't play again'.
"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 would add: "I don't feel like I owe an apology to anybody. An apology is something when you've done something wrong."
When asked about the allegation that he reportedly bribed police by saying 'do you know who I am?' Maguire replied: "No, for sure. As soon as I saw that statement, it's just ridiculous.
"It was horrible. It's not something I ever want to do again. I regret putting the fans and the club through this.
"I don't wish it on anybody. It's the first time I'd ever been inside a prison. I found myself in a situation where it could have happened to anybody and anywhere."
