Harry Maguire’s Greek brawl conviction ‘quashed’ as he’s granted appeal – but he may wait 3 years for retrial

HARRY Maguire’s lawyers today lodged an appeal against his Greece assault and cop bribery convictions.

The move nullifies the initial verdict and means there will be a retrial in a more senior court.

But the England star, expected to keep the Man United captaincy, may wait three years for it to be heard.

Pals today claimed Maguire, 27, and his group — arrested at the weekend — were given a “welcome” by up to eight men armed with batons when they arrived at a police station in Mykonos.

Authorities refused to allow medical evidence gathered by his legal team which detailed bruising he sustained.

Phone footage which showed Maguire’s pals confronting two Albanians who allegedly tried to inject his sister Daisy, 20, with a drug was also not allowed to be submitted.

A source said: “Harry is very disappointed at how things played out in court. His team was given two hours to examine a 50-page prosecution file.

'HELLBENT'

“They repeatedly asked for an adjournment but weren’t given one.

"The trial went on until late and it makes everyone think that the authorities were determined to deal with the case, whether it had due process or not.

“Harry is confident that the appeals process will provide him with the opportunity to clear his name.”

Another pal said Maguire was “hellbent on clearing his name”, adding: “He respects the legal process.”

Manchester United insisted their skipper now has no conviction or criminal record and is innocent.

A spokesman for Manchester United said: "An appeal against yesterday’s verdict was lodged this morning by Harry’s legal team

"In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing of an appeal extinguishes the initial court verdict and nullifies the conviction.

"The appeal has been accepted and will lead to a full retrial in a more senior court.

"This means that Harry has no criminal record and is once again presumed innocent until proven guilty."

His supportive partner, Fern Hawkins, retweeted a post from the Football Daily announcing the retrial using multiple clapping emojis, with his brother Laurence also sharing the tweet.

Under Greek law Maguire was able to appeal quickly as his case had been heard in a tier one court. Had he been tried in a tier two court he would have had to wait one week to lodge the appeal.

The process could take up to three years to reach court again, and if he is found guilty the footballer can appeal again.

RETRIAL LOOMS

Maguire will not be subject to any international travel restrictions, the United statement added.

The appeal was filed on Wednesday morning and the case will be retried within the next two years by a court on the nearby island of Syros, two sources told Reuters.

Maguire was found guilty of assault, attacking a cop, attempted bribery and verbal assault after a marathon seven-hour court session on the Greek island of Syros last night.

The £85million England player avoided jail and being hit with a fine as he was convicted of all charges in a Greek court.

It comes after a Greek prosecuting lawyer indicated the footie ace, 27, could have his conviction overturned if he apologised.

He had previously called the defender a ";disgrace" and accused him of "inventing a pack of lies".

Lawyer Ioannis Paradissis told The Sun: “The lack of apology doesn’t surprise me. None mentioned to the police anything about being assaulted by Albanians.

“I am sorry if Ms Maguire has been the victim of such a criminal act, which I wholeheartedly condemn.

“If she wishes so, she can report the incident in order for it to be investigated by the relevant authorities.”

Earlier today, the United captain's brother Laurence Maguire insisted Harry won't say sorry for last week's brawl.

Maguire's fiancee Fern Hawkins retweeted Laurence message of support as they rallied round the footie ace.

'NO CHANCE'

A Greek court had heard Maguire's sister Daisy's eyes rolled back in her head and she began fitting after being injected with a "rape drug".

Daisy was approached by two Albanians in Mykonos on Thursday as her brother and a group of pals went to get burgers following a night out clubbing.

The court heard one cop required first aid when handcuffed Maguire attempted to break free - as another pal yelled "f**k, f**k the police".

After they were taken inside a police station, £190,000-a-week Maguire boasted about how "rich" he was as he tried to pay police off, it was said.

He bragged: "Do you know who I am? I am the captain of Manchester United, I am very rich, I can give you money, I can pay you, please let us go”.

Maguire is then said to have continued boasting about how "very rich" he is, adding: "I am the captain of Manchester United".

So obviously if, as I believe, there is still time for the three defendants to say they are sorry, then I believe the outcome might be different.

Ioannis Paradissis

This afternoon, the defender's brother Laurence Maguire tweeted: "Absolute no chance Harry will be apologising.

"Daisy and no one in the group was interviewed by the police."

Maguire said yesterday said "the truth can't be hidden" after he was found guilty of bribery, aggravated assault and resisting arrest over the Mykonos brawl.

His lawyer Alexis Anagnostakis said: ""My clients did not beat anyone, accost anyone, or injure anyone."