Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has shared a cryptic message on Instagram in the wake of his conviction for his involvement in an incident on a Greek island.
Maguire, 27, has vowed to appeal against the conviction imposed in his absence by a Greek court on Tuesday.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, he posted a quote to his Instagram stories which reads: “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. - Buddah”
It comes after his sister Daisy Maguire posted the same quote on Instagram on Tuesday evening.
Maguire was arrested along with two others, including brother Joe, in the early hours of Friday after an alleged incident in Mykonos.
He appeared at a hearing the following day in neighbouring Syros and faced several charges along with Christopher Sharman and brother Joe Maguire.
But he was not at the subsequent court case on Tuesday where he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and bribery.
A 21-month suspended prison sentence has been imposed on the Manchester United captain.
Maguire has vowed to clear his name and in a statement released yesterday said: “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.”
The verdict led England boss Southgate to withdraw the defender from the squad for the Nations League doubleheader against Iceland and Denmark, having only selected him earlier in the day.
In a club statement released shortly after the verdict Manchester United said: “Manchester United notes the verdict of the Greek court today.
“Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence.
“It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare.
“A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied.
“On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire’s legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date.”
Maguire was among a group of four couples that went out in Mykonos on Thursday.
The Greek court heard the defence claim that his sister Daisy fainted after being injected in a bar by two men.
Tensions became fraught and the group attempted to return to the villa, with the defence claiming undercover police directed the minibus to go to the police station – something the group were not aware of, the PA news agency reports.
A group of Greek men allegedly kicked Maguire and told him ‘your career is over’ when they got there. Fearing he was being robbed, Maguire’s attempts to get away saw him arrested and detained.
The defender denies an allegation of bribery and sees any physical actions as self-defence towards individuals the group had not been aware were police officers.
