The Premier League reportedly blocked Man United legend Ryan Giggs from being inducted into their Hall of Fame when he faced trial for domestic abuse of his ex-girlfriend.
Giggs, 52, had been intended to be an inaugural member of the Hall of Fame alongside Alan Shearer after the Premier League launched the concept, borrowing from the model in American sports.
The Welshman was then quietly withdrawn from the process because of the charges he faced, according to the Telegraph.
The first players to be committed to the Hall of Fame were supposed to be announced in 2020, but there was a delay due to the pandemic.
In the time that then passed, the nomination committee were aware of the developments with Giggs and his accuser, opting to leave him off their list, according to the report.
Giggs was cleared in July 2023 after allegations that he assaulted his ex-girlfriend and her sister.
He denied controlling and coercive behaviour towards his former partner, Kate Greville, and also denied he assaulted her sister, Emma.
He said he did not ‘lose control’ and headbutt his ex-girlfriend or elbow her sister in the jaw during a row at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester on 1 November 2020.
In 2022, the jury failed to reach verdicts on any of the charges, and there was then supposed to be a retrial the following year.
But the Crown Prosecution Service then announced they would not proceed, with KC Peter Wright saying Greville ‘indicated an unwillingness’ to give evidence once again before adding that the ordeal had ‘taken its toll’ on the family.
Giggs’ representative said: ‘The position is that he has always been innocent of these charges and there have been very many lies told about him.’
The winger stood down as Wales boss in 2020 in light of the charges before officially resigning two years later.
There could be growing clamour for Giggs to be considered for the Hall of Fame again, two-and-a-half years after being cleared.
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