Harry Maguire has spoken for the first time since being handed a 21-month suspended sentence in a Greek court and appeared to admit his future as Manchester United captain is out of his hands.
Speaking to BBC News on Thursday night, the England defender broke his silence following the brawl that broke out on the Greek island of Mykonos last week, with the 27-year-old found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after arrest.
Maguire, whose legal team have appealed the verdict, was clearly emotional as he described the events of that night, and added whether he remains the United captain is 'not his decision to make'.
Asked who he owed an apology too, Maguire said: 'I don’t feel like I owe an apology to anybody.
'An apology is something when you've done something wrong. I regret being in the situation.
'Obviously the situation has made it difficult and I play for one of the biggest clubs in the world so I regret putting the fans and the club through this.'
Maguire, who signed for United from Leicester City last summer for an record transfer fee of £80m for an English player, was named United captain in January.
But after the verdict in a court on the Greek island of Syros this week saw Gareth Southgate remove Maguire from his England squad for next week's internationals, Maguire's future as skipper with his club has been in some doubt - though United have stood by their player.
'It’s a massive privilege to play for the club, never mind captain. It’s not my decision to make,' Maguire replied, when asked if he could remain captain at United.
'I have great faith in the Greek law, a retrial will give us more time to prepare, gather the evidence, allow witnesses into the court, and I’m really confident the truth will be told and will come out.'
Maguire, who asked the BBC to keep his current location secret, vowed to fight to clear his name and declared: 'I'm confident the truth will be told.'
He said: 'I don't feel like I owe an apology to anybody, an apology is for when you've done something wrong.
'I regret being in the situation. Obviously the situation's made it difficult, I play for one of the biggest clubs in the world so I regret putting the fans and the club through this.'
The world's most expensive defender also denied claims he bribed police officers calling the statement read out in court 'ridiculous'.
He also said that plain-clothed police officers pulled over the group's minibus and threw him off. He tried to run away with one handcuff on because he feared for his life.
A shaken Maguire said: 'My initial thought was that we are being kidnapped. We got on our knees and put our hands in the air and then they just started hitting us in the legs saying my career's over, no more football, you won't play again.
pmydavid
299
I know how pathetic liars police officers can be when they know they messed up. I won't be surprised if they successfully accuse Maguire to cover up their mess. They know very well, things can get complicated if that arrest was unlawful. Should Maguire be acquitted, that means the whole arresting process was unlawful and for that, one can pay but time. If what Maguire is saying is true, then we have barbaric police officers in Greece.
Bendiga
280
It’s just indescribable how people will come on here to comment and make a mockery out of what could’ve been a result of someone losing their life, I understand club bantering is natural but this is more than bantering, all jokes aside this is someone life’s at risk while out trying to enjoy their time on vacation..
Kezceuz
275
Greek police am sure are not different from third world police who can come up with all sorts of stuff to implicate an innocent person. Why are we not hearing anything on the ground of Albanians who injected Maguire's sister, didn't they too violated Greek laws or it's only Maguire and his brother together with his friend are the culprits. I will not be surprised if it turns out to be the police are coopted into some of these criminals in Greece as it is the case in third world countries. As tightly stated by Maguire, the appeal will give opportunity for the defense team to prepare well and for witnesses to testify in court rather than just accepting the narrative of the police.