Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs was due to be among the original Hall of Fame inductees alongside Alan Shearer, but he was left off in the end by the Premier League
Ryan Giggs
The Premier League withdrew their plans regarding Ryan Giggs and the Hall of Fame(Image: Getty Images)
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The Premier League withdrew plans to make Ryan Giggs one of the inaugural Hall of Fame inductees when he was facing trial over domestic abuse charges, which were later dropped. Alan Shearer became its first member and the initial proposal was to induct him alongside the 52-year-old Manchester United icon.
Giggs held the distinction of netting in every Premier League campaign until his retirement and has claimed the title more times than any player in the competition's history.
The Telegraph reveals that Giggs was scheduled to be amongst the founding inductees, before delays caused by the Covid pandemic in 2020. When the programme resumed, the Welshman was confronting domestic abuse allegations and was consequently omitted from the list, with Thierry Henry instead joining the first entrants.
Giggs was cleared of coercive or controlling behaviour in July 2023 after his former partner refused to provide testimony in a retrial. He had consistently rejected the allegations and expressed being "deeply relieved" at the time.
Chris Daw KC, who acted for Giggs, informed Manchester Crown Court: "The position is that he has always been innocent of these charges and there have been very many lies told about him."
It has been two-and-a-half years since his accuser withdrew her testimony and there is mounting pressure to reintroduce Giggs into discussions, reports the Mirror. Some have highlighted how individuals with criminal backgrounds have still gained admission to the Hall of Fame - and failing to do so with Giggs constitutes double standards.
Eric Cantona was previously found guilty of assault, whilst Tony Adams served time for drink driving. John Terry, handed a four-match ban by the Football Association for racism, and Rio Ferdinand, suspended for eight months after failing to attend a drugs test, are both Hall of Fame members.
Giggs has previously appeared untroubled by his exclusion. He 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.
"[The Hall of Fame] isn't something you start in football to be in."
Hall of Fame inductees are chosen through a combination of public voting, a shortlist compiled by a panel and final selections made by existing inductees. Eden Hazard and Gary Neville have recently gained entry.
Ryan Giggs with the Premier League trophy
Ryan Giggs won 13 Premier League titles with Manchester United(Image: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Reach PLC contacted the Premier League for comment and, without addressing Giggs specifically, they stated: "The Premier League Hall of Fame shortlist is selected at the discretion of the Premier League in consultation with members of the Premier League Awards Panel.
"The final inductees each year are determined by the existing members of the Hall of Fame. The shortlist is reviewed on an annual basis with a number of factors taken into account including previous shortlist voting data, eras, player positions and achievements.
"New players who meet the criteria for selection become eligible upon their retirement from professional football."