Wales’ Giggs charged with assaulting two women; won’t coach at EURO

LONDON (AP) Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has been charged with assaulting two women, prosecutors said Friday, and as a result won’t coach Wales at the European Championship.

The 47-year-old Giggs, the men’s national coach since 2018, was ordered to appear in court on Wednesday. He had been under investigation since his arrest last year.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it authorized Greater Manchester police to charge Giggs with “engaging in behavior which was controlling or coercive and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.”

“A charge of assault by beating relating to a second woman has also been authorized,” the service said.

The decision to charge Giggs was made after a review of evidence gathered by Greater Manchester police, prosecutors said.

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In a separate statement, Greater Manchester police said the assault charges relate to an incident on the evening of Nov. 1, when they responded to a disturbance call.

“A woman in her 30s was treated for injuries at the scene,” the police statement said.

While under investigation, Giggs missed the start of his team’s World Cup qualifying campaign. Former Wales captain Robert Page replaced him temporarily.

On Friday, the Football Association of Wales announced that Page “will assume the role” of national coach for European 2020 this summer.

“An FAW board meeting will be convened to discuss these developments and its impact on the association and the national team,” it said in a statement. “The FAW will not be making any further comment at this current time.”

Giggs was arrested in November and has been free on bail.

He played a record 963 times for Manchester United before retiring in 2014.