Soccer

Ryan Giggs stood down for Wales fixtures with future in doubt

Former Manchester United winger was arrested on suspicion of assault in November

Ryan Giggs will remain on leave for the start of Wales’ World Cup campaign with Robert Page taking caretaker charge again. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire

Ben Fisher
Wed Mar 10 2021 - 10:27

Ryan Giggs will not take charge of Wales this month, casting further doubt over his long-term future and whether he will lead his country at Euro 2020 in the summer. The Football Association of Wales held urgent discussions after Giggs’s bail was extended until May, six weeks before the start of the tournament, and the matter has been complicated by a vote of no confidence in the outgoing FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford.

Giggs was arrested on suspicion of assault and actual bodily harm in November, leading him to stand aside for three matches including the Nations Cup draw with Ireland. The Crown Prosecution Service are deciding whether there is a case to answer. Giggs denies the allegations. Robert Page, who led the team in Giggs' absence last year, has again been placed in caretaker charge for another triple header, including World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and Czech Republic. The Wales squad is set to be announced next week and will join up in Cardiff across the weekend of March 20th.

“The Football Association of Wales [FAW]and Ryan Giggs have mutually agreed that he will not be involved in the upcoming international camp. Robert Page will take charge for the next three matches against Belgium, Mexico and the Czech Republic and will be supported by Albert Stuivenberg as was the case during the last international window in November,” read an FAW statement issued on Wednesday morning. “The FAW will not be making any further comment at this current time.”

In a statement last month, Greater Manchester Police said: “A 46-year-old man [now aged 47] arrested on suspicion of section 39 common assault and section 47 assault in November 2020 has had his bail extended until Saturday May 1st 2021. This relates to an incident reported to police at 10.05pm on Sunday November 1st on Chatsworth Road, Worsley. A file remains with the CPS and a decision is expected in due course.”

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The FAW was thrown into turmoil when the allegations against Giggs surfaced but have since had to contend with the uncertainty surrounding Ford, who it was announced on Tuesday will depart at the end of the month following 11 years in the post. Meanwhile, the FAW are searching for a new women’s manager with Jayne Ludlow stepping down after six years last month.

The FAW are not expected to make a decision on Giggs’ long-term future until after the March camp, during which Wales also host Mexico in a friendly. Giggs’ four-year contract expires after the 2022 World Cup. Wales’ Euro 2020 campaign is scheduled to begin on June 12th in Group A against Switzerland in Baku. – Guardian