Ryan Giggs: Wales manager denies charges of assaulting women and controlling behaviour

Wales manager and former Manchester United player Ryan Giggs has denied charges of assaulting two women.

Mr Giggs pleaded not guilty to an allegation he was violent towards his ex-girlfriend and engaged in controlling or coercive behaviour in Manchester Magistrates’ Court during a hearing on Wednesday (28 April).

Controlling or coercive behaviour includes "repeatedly or continuously engaged in behaviour which was controlling or coercive, namely, used violence, isolation, belittling, humiliation, harassment, degradation and abuse", according to court documents.

The 47-year-old is also charged with coercive or controlling behaviour in an intimate relationship, which alleges the abuse lasted almost three years, between December 2017 and November 2020.

Mr Giggs entered a plea of not guilty of causing actual bodily harm to PR executive Kate Greville, 36, and the common assault of her younger sister Emma Greville, during the same alleged incident.

Andrea Griffiths, for the prosecution, told the court that Mr Giggs had subjected Ms Greville to a "deliberate head butt" on 1 November 2020 and this had been "aggravated by domestic background" and being "in drink".

Granted bail

Mr Giggs appeared in the dock for his first court appearance as the three charges against him were read out, to which he entered his pleas of not guilty.

The Wales manager spoke only to confirm his name, address and enter his not guilty pleas, and has been bailed to appear at Manchester Crown Court on 26 May.

His conditions of bail are that he must not contact Kate or Emma Greville, or go to any address where they are.

The hearing, which lasted 13 minutes, dealt with procedural matters as the case was sent to the crown court for a further hearing.

The Football Association of Wales confirmed last week that Mr Giggs would not be leading their men’s team at this summer’s European Championship, with Robert Page taking the reins instead.

As a player, Mr Giggs made 963 appearances over 23 years for Manchester United, and won honours which include 13 Premier League winner's medals and two UEFA Champions League winner's medals.

He also played for Wales 64 times, between 1991 and 2007, and took over as national coach for the country in 2018.

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