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      Harry Maguire’s Greek retrial for assault and bribery shelved for over a year – and may never go ahead

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      HARRY Maguire’s retrial for assault and bribery has been shelved for more than a year — and may never go ahead. The England and Manchester United centre-back was due to plead his innocence this week at a long-awaited hearing on the Greek island of Mykonos. 
      Harry Maguire’s Greek retrial for assault and bribery may never go aheadCredit: Getty
      Maguire spent two nights in a cell after an altercation on a night outCredit: The Mega Agency
      But a legal strike saw it postponed and lawyers say it will now not take place until March next year at the earliest.
      Officials are now said to be reluctant to pursue the case amid fears it has damaged the island’s reputation and harmed tourism. 
      The move to postpone the case prolongs the ordeal for the ace who has vowed to clear his name after his shock arrest in summer 2020. 
      A source said: “Harry has — and always will — contest the charges.
      READ MORE ON HARRY MAGUIRE
      “He was on holiday with friends and family and was understandably distraught. He doesn’t want this hanging over him another day but respects the Greek legal system.” 
      Maguire, 30, was held by police and spent two nights in a cell after an altercation on a night out. 
      He was hauled into court days later and his lawyers were given just two hours to prepare a case. 
      Crucial evidence was withheld from the trial and Maguire was found guilty of bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence.
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      The footie hero, who has won 62 caps for the Three Lions, got a suspended jail term of 21 months. 
      Maguire’s lawyers immediately lodged an appeal — quashing the original verdict — and vowed to return to court to clear his name. 
      Luke Littler takes on Harry Maguire in incredible darts challenge as fans say Man Utd star should ‘switch careers’
      The player later told how the ordeal unfolded as he, his wife Fern, sister Daisy and six others waited for a taxi.
      He said two Albanian men approached Daisy and tried to talk to her. 
      Fern said she then saw Daisy’s eyes had rolled back as she drifted in and out of consciousness.
      Maguire said the group shouted at the men but there was no fight.
      Harry Maguire spoke to the BBC’s sports editor Dan Roan in 2020Credit: BBC
      Harry Maguire during his infamous 2020 interview about the Mykonos brawl
      Harry (right) with sister Daisy Maguire in MykonosCredit: Refer to CaptionHARRY MAGUIRE MYKONOS BATTLE TIMELINE More

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      Premier League facing imminent legal action from top-flight giants over controversial new rule brought in TODAY

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      MANCHESTER City led a failed rebellion against Premier League financial rule changes that split the 20 clubs even further.And the champions – already embroiled in a drawn-out battle over the 115 charges laid for alleged FFP breaches – are now threatening legal action against the league following what was described as the “tightest vote in Prem history”.
      Man City will now threaten legal action against the Premier League over a new rule changeCredit: Reuters
      Prem clubs think the new rule hinders their chance to sign deals to boost spending on playersCredit: PA
      The proposed changes to tighten and speed up the timetable on “related party transactions” – companies linked to club owners were tabled at yesterday’s “shareholder” meeting of the 20 clubs.
      Prem leaders believe the new rules stop clubs from being able to sign commercial deals with companies under common ownership at inflated prices to boost their spending power on players.
      Before the vote, Premier League bosses informed all the clubs that one of their number – believed to be City – were launching proceedings because they argued the new regulations were “unlawful”.
      City, who declined to confirm they were the protagonists, are arguing that the changes are “unlawful” and breach competition legislation.
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      They warned Prem chiefs that would consider launching arbitration proceedings – a legal process questioning the validity of the new rules – if they were passed.
      That led to a clear division between the two factions – just as when proposals to ban clubs from signing players on loan from multi-club ownership sister organisations were defeated in November.
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      City’s overall sponsorship deals total £235m this season and financial backers include Etihad Airways, technology group Etisalat, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Emirates Palace.
      Three months ago, City, Newcastle and Chelsea had four allies to prevent the changes being passed.
      Most read in Football
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      But it is understood that Burnley and one other club abstained at yesterday’s vote.
      That meant 12 clubs in favour, with six opposed – exactly meeting the two-thirds threshold required for a vote to pass under Prem regulations.
      The spat left some of the losing sides angry and frustrated, with one club furious that the Prem position had “squeaked” through by the minimum margin after the two unexpected abstentions.
      Others were privately pointing fingers directly at rivals and the Prem leadership, claiming the dispute had highlighted “fractured relationships” throughout the League.
      In a statement, a Prem spokesman said: “Following a full review of the existing Associated Party Transactions Rules and Fair Market Value assessment protocols, clubs agreed to a series of amendments to further enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the system.”
      The new regulations will now be introduced into the Prem rulebook for next season but City and their allies may seek to overturn the new position either through a future vote or the legal option.
      It comes with disputes still between clubs on how future spending rules should be drafted, with a possible change in the Profitability and Sustainability threshold and linking expenditure to revenues on the table.
      But Prem bosses did signal a belief that the contentious potential “New Deal” for funding the EFL could be coming closer to an agreement after “productive discussions” including face-to-face meetings between clubs from both leagues on Wednesday evening.
      The spokesman added: “This included plans to move towards a new financial settlement with the EFL and to agree a long-term deal for the good of English football. 
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      “A desire to seek a resolution on remaining issues was reiterated in the meetings, including a commitment to a process and timeline, with the continuation of discussions between the leagues.
      “To build on this momentum, conversations between clubs from the two leagues will now continue over the coming weeks.” More

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      Football yob admits attacking Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka after running on to pitch at Stamford Bridge

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      A FOOTBALL yob has admitted attacking Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka after he ran on to the pitch at Stamford Bridge.Jordan Chidley left the stands during the League Cup quarter-final after Mykhailo Mudryk netted a last-gasp equaliser.
      Jordan Chidley clattered into Martin DubravkaCredit: ALAMY
      The fan was captured goading the Newcastle keeperCredit: ALAMY
      As the clash was about to go into penalties, the 25-year-old then lashed out at Dubravka – intentionally clattering into him.
      Chidley also goaded the Slovakian keeper during the December 19 game.
      After he was arrested, the yob blamed his behaviour on “overexuberant celebrations” after the Blues scored in the dying minutes.
      Chidley avoided jail after pleading guilty to assault by beating at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
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      He was handed a three-year football banning order and ordered to pay £1,215.
      The court was told Dubravka had not provided a statement and “appears not to be too alarmed”.
      Prosecutor Malachy Pakenham said Chidley had clambered down on to the pitch and made a beeline for the Newcastle goalie.
      He added: “The steward tries to grab him, he then puts his arms out and grabs and touches the goalie who pulls away from him.”
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      The prosecutor said the contact was “quite minimal”.
      Footage showed Chidley also pointing in the goal-stopper’s face before running away.
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      His defence said the supporter is “not a football hooligan” and this was a “one-off incident”.
      Sentencing, the judge said: “When I’m sentencing you I’m thinking not only about the offence that was committed, but also I want to send out a message to deter other people from doing something similar.”
      Chidley pleaded guilty to assault by beatingCredit: PA
      He was given a three-year football banning orderCredit: PA More

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      Chris Eubank Snr’s youngest son Joseph, 27, denies raping teen girl near Brighton Pier

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      CHRIS Eubank Snr’s youngest son has denied raping a teenage girl near Brighton Pier.Joseph Eubank, 27, allegedly attacked the girl in the popular seaside resort in July 2022.
      Joseph Eubank denied rape charges todayCredit: Brighton Pictures
      Eubank, left, with his boxer dad and brother Chris JrCredit: Twitter
      He appeared at Lewes Crown Court today where he denied two counts of raping a woman aged under 18.
      Eubank, the youngest son of boxing legend Chris, was released on bail.
      Wearing a charcoal grey coat, black trousers and a black crew-neck top, Eubank was told he is facing trial in September.
      A police investigation was launched after the teen alleged she was raped near the pier on July 16, 2022.
      She was supported by specialist officers while Eubank was arrested and later charged.
      Chris Eubank Sr held the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles between 1990 and 1995.
      Joseph Eubank’s brother Chris Jr is also a professional boxer and has fought the likes of Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves.
      Chris Eubank Snr’s youngest son Joseph, 27, appears in court charged with raping teen girl near Brighton Pier
      Eubank is accused of raping a teen near Brighton PierCredit: Brighton Pictures More

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      Police charge 10 men over death of football fan who was killed when Burnley and Blackpool supporters brawled outside pub

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      POLICE have charged ten men over the death of a football fan who died after a brawl between Burnley and Blackpool supporters.Tony Johnson, 55, suffered a fatal head injury after the fight erupted outside The Manchester Pub in Blackpool on March 4, 2023.
      Tony Johnson died following a clash between Blackpool and Burnley fansCredit: Social Media
      It came after the grandad’s beloved Blackpool drew 0-0 with Burnley at home.
      Lancashire Police confirmed ten men have been charged over Tony’s death.
      Jake Balmforth, 34, has been charged with manslaughter while the remaining nine defendants are charged with affray.
      They are John Oswell, 49, Jonothan Lines, 31, Reece Hutchinson, 19, Callum Howarth, 29, Nicholas Schofield, 31, John Whiteside, 46, Jason Tattersall, 19, Joshua Ashton, 19, and Zak Bailey, 19.
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      All ten are due to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court on March 13.
      The horror unfolded hours after the Championship clash ended in a goalless draw.
      Paramedics administered CPR before Tony was taken to hospital, where he later died.
      Following his death, Tony’s partner said the family’s lives were “never going to be the same”.
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      She said: “I am devastated to have lost my best friend, life partner and soul mate in a cruel act.
      “Tony was a very much loved dad, son, brother, uncle and Gramps and obviously a beloved friend to many.
      “We all, as a family, are so heartbroken and our lives are never going to be the same.
      “He will be one missed gentleman and the party will live on through us all, just as he would’ve wanted.
      “Rest in peace my darling, tangerine dreams forever.”
      His partner previously paid tributeCredit: SWNS More

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      Footie assistant manager charged with betting breaches by FA after ‘placing 251 bets on matches’

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      MORECAMBE’s assistant manager has been charged with allegedly violating FA betting rules.John McMahon has been charged with a whopping 251 alleged violations over a near four-year period.
      Morecambe assistant manager John McMahon could be in hot waterCredit: REX
      He’s been charged with 251 alleged breaches of betting rulesCredit: MORECAMBE FC
      An FA statement read: “Morecambe assistant manager, John McMahon, has been charged with misconduct in relation to betting.
      “It’s alleged that he has breached FA Rule E1 (b) by betting on football matches 251 times between 30 November 2019 and 14 October 2023.
      “John McMahon has until Thursday 8 February to respond.”
      A statement from League Two Morecambe on the allegation read: “Morecambe Football Club acknowledges the FA’s statement regarding the charge made against John McMahon.
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      “As this is an ongoing matter, we will be making no further comment at this time.”
      The allegations against McMahon came to light just hours after a Championship player received a lengthy ban for breaching rules – with one of the violations seeing him bet on his own team.
      Huddersfield Town’s Kian Harratt was slapped with a four-month ban after being found guilty of placing 484 bets on football over a three-year period.
      Harratt apologised for his actions, saying: “I am also cognisant of the fact that some of the bets that I have placed are more problematic than others, in particular those involving my own team.
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      “While the vast majority of the bets I have placed on football do not involve my own team, I recognise the issues that placing bets involving my own team can cause.”
      Huddersfield Town’s Kian Harratt was slapped with a four-month ban for 484 breaches of betting rulesCredit: GETTY
      He added: “Of the 44 bets of this nature that I placed, 36 involved Huddersfield.
      “I was not in the matchday squad for any of the fixtures involving Huddersfield that I bet on, as I was either on loan or training with the reserves at that time.
      “Nine of the 36 bets involving Huddersfield included selections for Huddersfield to lose. While, as explained above, I was not in the squad for these fixtures, I accept that these are perhaps the most serious of the bets on football that I have placed.
      “As is demonstrated by the spontaneous nature of the bets that I placed, I did not plan or give much thought to the teams that I included.
      “Looking back, I find it difficult to explain how or why I would have selected certain teams or fixtures to bet on.
      “In particular, I am unable to explain why I would have placed bets against my own team, when it is clear to me now that this is something that footballers should not do.”
      If found guilty, McMahon could face a serious touchline suspension.
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      The FA hit Brentford and England international Ivan Toney with an EIGHT-MONTH ban and a £50,000 suspension for 232 breaches of FA betting rules.
      Toney, 27, only returned to the fray on January 20 in the Bees’ clash with Nottingham Forest.
      Ivan Toney was slapped with an eight-month ban for 232 breaches of FA betting rulesCredit: PA More

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      Dani Alves denies ‘nightclub toilet rape’ & says ‘I’m not that type of man’ as ex-Barcelona star faces 12 years in jail

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      EX BARCELONA star Dani Alves has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a young woman in a nightclub.After two days of testimonies from the alleged victim, witnesses, and experts, the 40-year-old defender told a Spanish court that their encounter had been consensual. 
      Dani Alves has testified in court on the last day of his three-day trialCredit: Reuters
      Model Joana Sanz said her ex-husband “stank of alcohol” when he went home the night of the alleged attackCredit: EPA
      The verdict is expected to be delivered in weeks
      The Brazilian footballer is accused of raping a woman in the toilet of  Sutton nightclub in Barcelona in the early hours of December 31, 2022.
      He has denied any wrongdoing, telling his defence lawyer that he is “not that type of man”.
      His accuser told the prosecution that she had been dancing with the footballer and had willingly entered the bathroom with him, but that he forced her to stay after she wanted to leave.
      She claims that he was aggressive with her, slapping her and insulting her, and then forced her to have sex with him.
      READ MORE ON DANI ALVES
      In response, Alves said: “She never told me to stop. We were both enjoying ourselves.”
      He claimed that the woman never asked to leave the bathroom and also denied having been aggressive with her.
      State prosecutors are seeking for him to be jailed for nine years if convicted while the lawyers representing his accuser want 12 years.
      Alves was escorted in handcuffs into the small courtroom of Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial Court for the trial that is expected to conclude today.
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      A verdict normally takes weeks to be delivered.
      The alleged victim testified on Monday behind closed doors on order of the court.
      State prosecutors asked for the court to take extra measures to protect her identity after a video circulated on social media last month that allegedly identified the woman.
      During the first day of the footballer’s trial a friend and cousin of his accuser claimed he also groped them in the VIP area.
      The two women claim he then invited their friend, the alleged rape victim, to follow him through a separate door after flirting with her.
      The dad-of-two has previously confirmed he had sex with a woman in the nightclub’s toilet but insisted it was consensual.
      His ex-wife Joana Sanz told the court Alves Sanz told the court Alves “smelled of alcohol” and “he bumped into several pieces of furniture and collapsed on the bed” after arriving home the night of the alleged assault.
      But she said she didn’t want to talk to him because of “the state he was in”.
      Alves initially claimed he had never met his female accuser before telling a judge in a court hearing he had lied to cover up his “marital infidelity.”
      The footballer was ordered to stand trial last November.
      He was sacked by Mexican side UNAM Pumas following his arrest after he flew back to Barcelona to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral.
      He has made repeated bail requests but they have all been turned down, with judges saying his alleged victim’s version of events was coherent and pointing out Alves had changed his story several times as the evidence authorities have against him has emerged.
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      As well as two spells at Barcelona, Alves has played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo.
      He is widely considered one of the greatest full-backs of all time and became the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in December 2022 in Qatar.
      Alves’ family speaking to a court official in Barcelona
      Alves has denied any wrongdoingCredit: AFP
      He has been accused of raping a woman in the toilets of Sutton in BarcelonaTimeline of Dani Alves’s case

      December 30, 2022: A woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in the toilets of Sutton nightclub
      January 1, 2023: Cops in Barcelona are investigating an alleged sexual assault in a nightclub involving Dani Alves.
      January 5, 2023: Dani Alves’s alleged victim makes a formal complaint claiming she was sexually assaulted
      CCTV footage shows Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a toilet at the nightclub with his accuser
      January 20, 2023: Alves had been remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona
      He initially denies ever meeting his accuser but later confirms they had sex in the nightclub’s toilets – but insists was consensual
      January 31, 2023: His wife Joana Sanz, 29, demands divorce
      February 8, 2023: It emerges that Alves is said to be receiving ‘VIP treatment’ in prison
      March 17, 2023: Alves is going on hunger strike following split from wife
      November 14, 2023: The footballer is ordered to stand trial for the alleged assault
      November 24, 2023: Prosecutors demand nine years jail time and to pay the alleged victim  £130,000, if found guilty
      February 5, 2024: Alves appears in court in Spain facing twelve years in jail
      February 6 2024: Joana Sanz testified in court about a “drunk” phone call her husband made to her after the alleged assault More

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      Blow to Harry Maguire as battle to clear Man Utd star’s name over ‘holiday brawl’ to drag on…after lawyers go on strike

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      HARRY MAGUIRE’S fight to clear his name more than three years after an alleged holiday assault has been delayed again – as Greek lawyers go on strike.The Manchester United star, 30, was arrested on an August 2020 family holiday and convicted of assault and attempted bribery in Mykonos after a late-night bar brawl.
      Manchester United star Harry Maguire during his infamous 2020 interview about the Mykonos brawlCredit: Twitter/DanRoan
      Harry Maguire (right) with sister Daisy Maguire in Mykonos
      Harry Maguire pictured with his partner Fern Hawkins in Mykonos
      The star centre-back has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing and immediately appealed in 2020 – nullifying the convictions and sparking a new trial.
      But repeated delays to his appeal have caused the convoluted case to drag on for more than three years.
      And now thanks to strikes by Greek lawyers, hopes of putting the infamous incident behind him have been dashed once again.
      The footballer will not see the inside of a Greek court again until March 12, 2025 – marking four and a half years since the night of the alleged assault.
      READ MORE ON HARRY MAGUIRE
      A lawyer at the appeals court in Syros said the date of the new trial, 1665 days after the night of the bar clash, was announced much sooner than expected.
      “A lot of us want to be done with this case,” one insider at the court revealed.
      “But there is nothing we can do because of this union action. Lawyers can’t be seen to be strike-breakers.”  
      The hearing, they told The Sun, had been listed as Number 19 on the docket. “It was the last case due to be heard”, they added.
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      Harry was initially found guilty of assaulting police, resisting arrest and attempted bribery following the clash outside Mykonos bar Bonbonniere.
      He was handed a suspended jail sentence of 21 months and 10 days but saw the conviction quashed after he was granted an appeal.
      It nullified the original verdict and left a retrial to be decided in a more senior court – which still has yet to happen.
      I thought we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us.Harry Maguire
      The retrial was first postponed due to the Covid pandemic.
      It was later scheduled for June last year, but Maguire’s legal team requested it be pushed back.
      If he is now found guilty in March 2025, he will not be able to receive a more severe punishment than his original sentence.
      Maguire’s brother, Joe, and friend, Christopher Sharman, were also handed suspended sentences of 13 months.
      Soon after his arrest, Maguire gave a frank interview where he said he was “scared for his life” as Greek cops handcuffed him and bashed his legs with a baton.
      HARRY MAGUIRE MYKONOS BATTLE TIMELINE

      He infamously told the BBC: “I did nothing wrong”, and said police disguised in plain clothes told him “your career is over, no more football, you won’t play again”.
      “I thought we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us”, Maguire, then 27, said.
      He went on: “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.”
      Maguire claims the fight erupted after “an Albanian thug” injected his younger sister, Daisy, with an unknown substance outside a Mykonos bar.
      The then Manchester United captain said he and his brother, Joe, who was also detained, were forced to intervene when they saw Daisy faint.
      Moments earlier, he said, she had been stabbed by “this gangster type.”
      “It’s been very tough on Daisy,” he told the BBC during his 2020 interview.  
      A friend of their family also told a Greek court in 2020 that they saw Daisy fitting after she was injected with a “rape drug”.
      A scuffle later allegedly broke out between cops and the trio, where one officer was punched and another needed first aid – Maguire has denied ever attacking the police.
      They were hitting my leg saying my career is over, ‘No more football. You won’t play again.’Harry Maguire
      Fern Hawkins, who was in Mykonos with the centre-back at the time of the brawl, launched into a passionate defence of her boyfriend at the time and accused Greek cops of “lying”.
      One officer claimed during the 2020 case that Maguire had boasted “Don’t you know who I am” when he was arrested, which Fern slammed as an attempt to “ruin Harry’s reputation”.
      Pals say the episode has taken “a huge emotional toll” on Maguire.
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      In May last year a judge postponed proceedings after the footballer’s top-league lawyer, Alexis Anagnostakis, told the court he was unable to attend because his presence was needed at a higher court in Athens – permissible under Greek law.
      The footballer has said he is willing to give evidence by video link when the case is eventually seen in court, but does not want to return to Syros in person.
      Harry Maguire spoke to the BBC’s sports editor Dan Roan in 2020Credit: BBC
      Maguire will now have to wait until March 12 2025 for his appeal trial
      Harry with his brothers Laurence and Joe
      Maguire was captain of Manchester United when he was charged – pictured playing with the team on February 4 this yearCredit: Getty More