Ryan Giggs, the former Manchester United player, was quietly withdrawn from the Premier League Hall of Fame inaugural member list.
The decision came as Giggs faced trial for domestic abuse, with the 2020 event delayed by the pandemic.

What happened?

The Premier League had initially lined up Giggs as a first member alongside Alan Shearer, but he was left off the list due to the ongoing trial.
Giggs, 52, was found not guilty of coercive or controlling behaviour in July 2023 after his ex-girlfriend declined to give evidence in a retrial.

Why it matters for Ryan Giggs

Critics argue it is unfair that Giggs, the league’s most decorated player, has been snubbed while other players with criminal records have been included.
Eric Cantona, Tony Adams, John Terry, and Rio Ferdinand are among those in the Hall of Fame with past convictions or bans.

What comes next?

Pressure is growing on the nomination committee to include Giggs again, with Matt Le Tissier, a 2022 Hall of Fame nominee, questioning the decision on social media.
Giggs has yet to rebuild his career in the game, having worked as director of football at League Two Salford City and helped out on match days.
He had spells as player-coach and interim manager at Old Trafford before becoming Wales manager in January 2018.
Giggs led Wales to qualification for Euro 2020, which was played in the summer of 2021 due to Covid-19.
But following his arrest on suspicion of assault in November 2020, he stood down as Wales manager before formally resigning in 2022.
The Premier League Hall of Fame inductees are selected by combining a public vote, a shortlist determined by a panel, and final choices determined by existing inductees.
Giggs told the Daily Mail: “It’s not something that I really think about. It’s been brought up a couple of times, and only then do I think about it.”
During Giggs’s time at Old Trafford, United won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups, and three League Cups.
Giggs’s omission from the Hall of Fame has sparked debate about his legacy and whether he deserves to be included alongside other football legends.
The nomination committee will face pressure to reconsider Giggs’s inclusion in the future, given his impressive playing career and contributions to the sport.