Manchester United captain Harry Maguire. Photo: VCG

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire was on Tuesday given a 21-month and 10-day suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer, bribery and other charges by a court in Greece.

The England international, who announced he would appeal the verdict, was arrested on August 20 after a fight at a nightclub in Mykonos.

He was charged with assault, bodily harm, verbal abuse and attempted bribery, all of which he denied.

Maguire, who did not attend his trial on the Greek island of Syros, in a statement declared, "Following the hearing today, I have instructed my legal team with immediate effect to inform the courts we will be appealing.

"I remain strong and confident regarding our innocence in this matter - if anything myself, family and friends are the victims."

Manchester United backed their player.

"Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanor charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence," the club said.

The sentence is suspended for three years.

According to media reports the nightclub fight started over claims his sister Daisy was injected with what the defense claimed was a suspected drug.

Maguire was arrested along with his brother and a friend after being driven from the club to a police station, where there was an altercation with the prosecution claiming Maguire offered money to be released.

The 27-year-old defender, who has 26 England caps, spent two nights in police custody before flying home at the weekend.

Maguire's brother Joe was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, violence against public employees and ­attempted bribery. The friend, Christopher Sharman, was found guilty of insult, repeated bodily harm and violence against public employees.

Both were sentenced to 13 months in prison, suspended for three years.

As his fate was being decided in Greece, Maguire was simultaneously being named by manager Gareth Southgate in England's Nations League squad, only to be removed hours later.

Earlier in the day the England boss explained he had stood by him after speaking to Maguire, the world's most expensive defender following his 80 million pound ($105 million) move from Leicester to United last year.

"I have spoken with Harry. I have the insight to the story which is very different to what is being recorded. You can only make decisions on facts you are aware of," Southgate told a press conference. 

Later Tuesday Daisy Maguire posted on Instagram, "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun; the moon, and the truth - Buddha."

While Maguire is now out of immediate involvement on the international scene, his club United are due back in training on September 2. 


Newspaper headline: Maguire to appeal