Harry Maguire's lawyers are adamant that the Manchester United defender does not have a criminal record and he has complete freedom to travel - despite him being convicted in a Greek court and being handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence.Â
Both of those factors are crucial for Maguire's hopes of making England's World Cup squad, selected in two months' time, because either one could prevent him from being granted a US visa, and therefore bar him from entering America.
The Manchester United defender has been in excellent form for his club since the arrival of Michael Carrick as head coach, prompting calls for an England recall - which would be his first involvement under Thomas Tuchel, and the last before the German coach names his World Cup squad in May. With John Stones' continued battle for match fitness, Maguire is a strong candidate.
The 33-year-old was found guilty in his absence inside a Syros court on Wednesday of three counts of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery - charges he has always denied, ever since he was first arrested and charged during a family holiday in Mykonos, six years ago.
His lawyers have filed papers to inform the Greek authorities of their intention to appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court in Athens. They believe there are serious flaws in the prosecution case, and have questioned the conduct of those pushing ahead with proceedings against the England international.
The Greek prosecutor has told Your Site News that they will pursue the case to the full extent, whilst Maguire is determined to clear his name. But the issue of whether he has a criminal record or not is vital for his World Cup prospects.
Under America's very strict immigration laws, any non-US citizen travelling to the country has to get a Visa, but anyone with a criminal conviction for an offence which involves "moral terpitude" is very likely to be prohibited. Moral terpitude offences include those involving theft, fraud, drugs, violence and bribery - the last two of which are central to Maguire's conviction.
The fact that he has been sentenced in a country other than the UK, and that his punishment has been suspended, has no bearing on his visa application, specialist lawyers have told Your Site News.
All professional athletes wanting to enter the US have to apply for a P1a visa, which allows them temporary access to the country to take part in a specific sporting event. The FA will normally handle this for England's footballers.
But athletes with a criminal conviction are not eligible to apply in the normal way, and so if Maguire's conviction is still in place when England fly out to Miami in May (assuming, of course, that he is selected by Tuchel) he may have to apply for an exemption. That could require the involvement of a US senator to vouch for him, but would definitely require a more stringent assessment by American immigration officers.
Nevertheless, President Donald Trump has the ultimate power to allow or deny access to any foreign individual, and Maguire's case will not be helped by Trump's current spat with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whom he has accused of a lack of support in America's war with Iran.
What is in Maguire's favour is the fact that he would only be seeking a temporary visa to play for his country. If he were to apply for a permanent visa (for example, if he had agreed to join an MLS side in the summer) he would find it much more difficult to do so.
And sports stars with criminal convictions have been allowed into the US before including Conor McGregor and, famously, Diego Maradona, who was banned twice from entering the States - once after testing positive for a banned substance, and the other for insulting Donald Trump.
