Former Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs denied assaulting his former girlfriend and her younger sister. Giggs, also the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/former-manchester-united-star-ryan-giggs-charged-with-assault-against-two-women-1.1209570">Wales manager, is charged</a> with causing actual bodily harm to his then girlfriend Kate Greville, 36, and common assault of her sister Emma, as well as one count of coercive and controlling behaviour between 2017 and 2020. Wearing a dark suit and tie, and standing behind a glass screen, the former player gave his name, address and date of birth at Manchester Magistrates' Court on April 28. He answered not guilty to the charges. Outlining the assault charge during the brief 13-minute hearing, prosecutor Andrea Griffiths said: “That is a domestic assault of his then partner, Kate Greville. “It involved a deliberate headbutt to her, aggravated by the fact of the domestic background and the fact he was in drink at the particular time.” The prosecutor said Giggs’ alleged controlling behaviour began “more or less from the start of the relationship” and involved “fear of violence on many occasions”, “incessant communications” and “ensuring she remained in a relationship with him, isolating her from friends and work colleagues”. Giggs, 47, who said he looks forward to clearing his name, was replaced as manager of the Wales team for this summer's Euro 2020 tournament. The assault is alleged to have taken place at his home in Worsley, on November 2. He is accused of attacking Ms Greville's sister Emma on the same date. Giggs is charged with being “repeatedly or continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, namely, used violence, isolation, belittling, humiliation, harassment, degradation and abuse towards Kate Greville, to whom, at the time of the behaviour, you were personally connected in that you were in an intimate relationship, that behaviour having a serious effect on her, and you knew or ought to have known that the behaviour would have a serious effect on her”. Giggs made 963 appearances over 23 years for Manchester United as a player, a club record, winning a haul of honours, including 13 Premier League titles and the Uefa Champions League twice. He represented Wales as a player 64 times between 1991 and 2007 and took over as national coach in 2018.
