'I was scared for my life': Harry Maguire reveals panic of Greece arrest

Manchester United captain's legal team lodged an appeal after being given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days for assault and attempted bribery

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire, left, leaves a court building on the island of Syros. Maguire was arrested on August 20 in Mykonos island along with his brother for assault and attack against police officers. EPA

England manager Gareth Southgate withdrew Maguire from his squad for the Nations League following his guilty verdict, but said would consider bringing Maguire back into the squad. EPA

Maguire leaves a courthouse on the Greek island of Syros, the administrative hub of the Cycladic island group that includes Mykonos. AFP

Manchester United have decided to retain Harry Maguire as captain. Reuters

England manager Gareth Southgate, right, and Harry Maguire. EPA

Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire has revealed how he was "scared for his life" and thought he was the victim of a kidnapping when he was arrested on a Greek holiday island.

Maguire, 27, was earlier this week given a suspended sentence of 21 months and 10 days after being found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery, violence against public employees and insult after his arrest on Mykonos.

In an interview with BBC Sport on Thursday, the United captain and England international described events leading up to his arrest. He said that plain-clothed police officers, who he says did not identify themselves, pulled over his group's minibus, threw him off the vehicle and repeatedly hit him in his legs.

Maguire said he tried to run away because he had no idea who the men were.

"They hit me a lot on the legs. I was in that much of a panic. Fear. Scared for my life," he said.

"I don't wish it on anybody. Obviously the situation has made it difficult for one of the biggest clubs in the world, so I regret putting the fans and the club through this, but I did nothing wrong," he added.

"I found myself in a situation where it could have happened to anybody and anywhere."

The central defender added that his "conscience is clear".

Maguire's legal team lodged an appeal against the verdict. Under Greek law, the appeal nullifies the original conviction so there will be a full retrial at a more senior court.

Maguire's brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty on a range of charges and sentenced to 13 months in prison, suspended for three years.

The three men denied all the charges.

According to media reports, a fight started at a nightclub over claims Maguire's younger sister Daisy had been injected with what the defence said was a suspected drug.

"My initial thought, I thought we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us," Maguire added.

"They were hitting my leg saying my career's over: 'No more football. You won't play again'.

"And at this point I thought there is no chance these are police or I don't know who they are so I tried to run away."

Maguire said he had attempted to take his sister to a hospital because she appeared to be losing consciousness having been approached by two men.

He also denied attempting to bribe the police.

When asked about the allegation, he replied: "No, for sure. As soon as I saw that statement, it's just ridiculous."

Maguire, a mainstay in the England setup under Gareth Southgate, was withdrawn from the squad for the Nations League matches against Iceland and Denmark next month, hours after initially selected him and giving him his full support.