It was on Tuesday that Harry Maguire - one of the most expensive defenders of all time and a given in the English national football team - was sentenced in Greek court after a dispute on the island of Mykonos.

Maguire is said to have beaten a policeman and tried to bribe him when he was taken away in handcuffs. In his defense, the player claimed that he tried to protect his sister who was allegedly drugged by strangers - but despite that he was sentenced to 21 months and ten days probation for aggravated assault, violent resistance and bribery.

Now Maguire has given his picture of the story in an interview with the BBC.

- I was in a situation that anyone could have ended up in at any time, he says.

"Hit me a lot"

The midfielder denies that he tried to bribe the police and that he acted violently.

- This is not something I want anyone to do. Obviously, this situation has made it difficult for one of the world's biggest clubs, so I regret exposing the fans and the club to this, but I have not done anything wrong.

According to Maguire, he was abducted by plainclothes police and that he therefore believed he was about to be kidnapped. He says he was beaten on his legs and was told that his career was over.

- They hit me a lot on the legs. I did not think about it, I was in so much panic. I feared for my life, he says.

Sorry not current

Lawyer Ioannis Paradissis, who represents two of the six police officers involved in the case, has called for an apology from Maguire and said that a "forgive me" could make a difference in Greek court cases.

Something that is not relevant.

- I do not feel that I owe an apology. Apologize when you have done something wrong.

Harry Maguire appealed his verdict and will have his case tried in a higher court sometime within the next two years, reports the news agency Reuters.

On Tuesday, he was selected for England's upcoming matches in the Nations League, but was removed from the squad after the verdict became official.