Former star winger Ryan Giggs appears from Monday in British justice in Manchester, accused of violence against his partner, which he denies but which led him to resign from his post as Wales coach at the approaching the 2022 World Cup.
Giggs, 48, pleads not guilty to the charges against him, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The former player, who won two Champions Leagues in the Manchester United jersey, is accused of assaulting his former partner Kate Gerville during a violent argument on November 1, 2020. The police were called to the home of Giggs.
He must also answer for the offense of behavior of control over his companion during their relationship, which had started in 2017 and ended on the day of the facts with which he is accused.
This charge covers acts of “isolation, belittlement, humiliation, harassment, degradation and ill-treatment”.
Giggs draws a line under the 2022 World Cup
Giggs, arrested at his home in November 2020 and released, is also charged with violence against the sister of his ex-partner, Emma Gerville.
At a preliminary hearing in April 2021, he disputed the charges against him and pleaded not guilty.
His trial was originally scheduled for January but had to be postponed due to court congestion.
He chose as his lawyer Chris Daw, who defended big names in sport such as former Chelsea captain John Terry, acquitted in 2012 by British justice in a case of racist insults against player Anton Ferdinand of the year previous in an English league match.
Giggs resigned as Wales manager in June.
"I do not want the country's preparations for the World Cup to be affected, destabilized or endangered in any way by the continued interest around this matter," he said.
He said he was impatient to “clear (his) name”.
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