Ryan Giggs has fronted a video promoting International Women’s Day for an Asian betting firm.
The former Manchester United winger appears in the clip as part of a commercial deal with the betting brand F168. “Today we celebrate the strength, beauty and achievements of women everywhere,” he says in a clip shared on his Instagram profile.
“To all the amazing women in our community, keep shining and inspiring us all.”
The 52-year-old, who works as an “ambassador” for the company, then appears to encourage viewers to sign up to the gambling site. “Don’t forget to have some fun and games at F168,” Giggs adds.
Giggs, a key member of Manchester United’s historic 1999 Treble-winning squad, has yet to rebuild his career in the game since domestic abuse claims were lodged against him. Most recently, he had been working as director of football at League Two Salford City and helping out on match days.
However, he reportedly took a step back from day-to-day activities at the start of this season as he seeks a return to a full-time management position.
Giggs was found not guilty of coercive or controlling behaviour in July 2023 after his ex-girlfriend declined to give evidence in a retrial. Giggs – who always denied the charges – said at the time he was “deeply relieved”. However, evidence in the case proved damaging for his public credibility, raising more allegations about his well-documented previous infidelity.
Jurors initially failed to reach majority verdicts on charges he had assaulted his former girlfriend Kate Greville and her sister Emma in the same incident in November 2020.
However, ahead of a retrial, Ms Greville withdrew her evidence. Chris Daw KC, who represented Giggs, told 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.”
Prior to police action against him, he had spells as both player-coach and interim manager at Old Trafford. He then became Wales manager in January 2018 and led them to qualification for Euro 2020, played in the summer of 2021 because of Covid restrictions. But following his arrest on suspicion of assault in November 2020, he stood down, before formally resigning from the role in 2022.
During Giggs’s time at Old Trafford, Manchester United won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups.
Telegraph Sport reported in January how the Premier League had initially planned to induct him as an inaugural Hall of Fame member but withdrew the invitation as he was engulfed in scandal.
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