If 'tarring and feathering' was a punishment in this day and age, Harry Maguire would be in serious bother. The "mob" are baying for his blood right now.

Last week he was arrested on the Island of Mykonos, where he was with family and friends on holiday. There are a number of stories detailing what supposedly happened,  though it is generally understood that Maguire's party were confronted and a skirmish occurred.

The police intervened and Maguire, his brother and his friend were all accompanied down to the station. It is alleged that not only did the boys assault a police officer but then tried to bribe their way out of trouble. Maguire denied all charges.

He was bailed and allowed to return to the UK with a trial set for Tuesday, August 25th. He wouldn't be present and would be represented locally, but things didn't go well and the judge returned a "Guilty" verdict against all charges.

Maguire has been sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended. Serious stuff.

  • United backing Maguire amid appeal

An appeal has been lodged immediately, and Manchester United have backed Maguire at this moment in time. A club statement read:

"Manchester United notes the verdict of the Greek court today. Harry Maguire pleaded not guilty to all of the misdemeanour charges made against him and he continues to strongly assert his innocence.

It should be noted that the prosecution confirmed the charges and provided their evidence late on the day before the trial, giving the defence team minimal time to digest them and prepare. A request for the case to be adjourned was subsequently denied.

"On this basis, along with the substantial body of evidence refuting the charges, Harry Maguire’s legal team will now appeal the verdict, to allow a full and fair hearing at a later date."

Earlier in the day, the England squad was announced and Maguire's international manager, Gareth Southgate, included the player stating that after a conversation with the defender he was confident that he could include him with the facts at his disposal. He added a caveat that it could change. It already has. Southgate has already performed a U-turn and axed him from the squad.

Until the appeal, Maguire may avoid further punishment on the football side of things, though he needs the appeal to come soon. It's a messy situation and if Maguire won an appeal would a further U-turn take place?

United have already shown their hand. They never jettisoned Eric Cantona after his Selhurst Park antics, and their £80m defender is likely to receive full backing whatever the result of the appeal.

What's strange about the whole thing is that the version of events are poles apart. Maguire is adamant he didn't do anything wrong, as are his co-defendants. The appeal shows he is not backing down.

The charges are not light ones, hence the sentence, and it is almost a case of who do you believe? 

There was footage shown of Maguire in custody looking extremely calm, yet worse for wear. Whether that was before the alleged incidents or not wasn't clear, yet it still seems unlikely that the police version could have happened.

A court decided it did, and this will be a chastening experience regardless of what happens next.

  • Backlash

It is going to be interesting to see what happens with the appeal because right now there is a huge appetite from "fans" to strip Maguire of the United captaincy and England set up. A large portion of the media is in that corner too.

In 1998, David Beckham was sent off in a World Cup match against Argentina for a petulant kick. England went out and he was vilified throughout the country by both fans and media. He was truly hounded.

United built up a siege mentality and protected him, allowing him to let his football do the talking. He redeemed himself in the eyes of everybody for the country at least, because he never had to for United. The majority of United fans will do the same for Maguire.

Yet Beckham never put himself in those situations where trouble could find him, and Maguire never made a mistake in a football match. He was more than entitled to let his hair down, but he made a bad choice mixing with the masses.

It's sad, but 'Joe Public' could get involved in an altercation in resorts abroad only too easily so Maguire would have been like a red rag to a bull. Other United players are also on the Island, but they obviously didn't put themselves in such a compromising situation.

The appeal centres on the fact that the charges were only made clear to the defence on the night before the trial thus not giving time to prepare properly. That seems fair.

What new evidence or argument can be gathered before the appeal is questionable though. Maguire had better hope that something does or he may need to call on Vincent La Guardia Gambini to do the talking. The consequences of the appeal failing will be far-reaching for him.