Manchester United stars Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha prosecuted for speeding

Premier League player and England international Harry Maguire has been fined £1,000 for speeding, as two other Manchester United stars were also prosecuted for driving offences.

Maguire was convicted of breaking the speed limit in his £130,000 Range Rover when he was caught driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone in Altringham, Greater Manchester.

The 33-year-old centre-back - who failed to make Thomas Tuchel's 26-man squad for the World Cup - was prosecuted and convicted in the single justice procedure last week.

It has now emerged that as his England teammates jetted out to the USA to start their World Cup preparations, Maguire faced further disappointment as he was convicted of breaking the speed limit on 28 December.

Maguire - who was given a 56-day road ban in January last year for speeding - pleaded guilty in writing to the latest charge and was sentenced at Tameside Magistrates' Court.

He was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine, given three penalty points on his licence and he must also pay £120 in costs and a £400 victim surcharge.

In a written apology to the court, he said: "I was driving at 37mph in what I mistakenly believed was a 40mph zone, when it was in fact a 30mph limit.

"I understand this was my responsibility and I fully accept the offence. I will be more careful in future and pay closer attention to speed limit signs.

"If possible, I would be very grateful if the court would consider allowing me to complete a speed awareness course instead of receiving penalty points."

His conviction came as two of his Manchester United teammates were also facing criminal proceedings over speeding offences.

Reserve goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, 28, was caught driving a Mercedes at 41mph in a 30mph limit in the Greater Manchester village of Hale Barns on 24 November last year.

The speed was clocked just before 11pm, around an hour after Bayindir and his teammates recorded a 1-0 defeat in their Premier League clash with Everton.

Bayindir, who has been called up for Turkey's World Cup campaign, pleaded guilty to speeding without entering any mitigation.

He was fined £666 at Manchester Magistrates' Court with three penalty points, £120 costs and a £266 victim surcharge.

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Matheus Cunha has also been charged with speeding and failing to respond to police letters asking him to identify the driver of the vehicle.

A Mercedes registered in the name of the 27-year-old Brazilian striker was clocked driving at 37mph, while on the same stretch of Hale Road where Bayindir was caught speeding, court documents show.

The incident happened within hours of United's opening day Premier League 1-0 defeat to Arsenal on 17 August last year, and was recorded on the route between Old Trafford and Cunha's home in Greater Manchester.

Police said Cunha was asked to clarify who was driving but he did not respond to the letters.

He is now accused of an additional criminal offence for not providing the information and has not entered any pleas, court documents show.

An official said the striker - who is part of Brazil's World Cup squad - now faces a hearing in open court in which disqualification from driving will be considered at the same time as sentencing.

All three United stars were spared having to attend court last week as their cases were handled in private, with a single magistrate taking decisions based on the written evidence.

Cunha may appear himself when his case is dealt with on 16 December at Bolton Magistrates' Court.

Maguire was sentenced by a Greek court in March over an incident on the island of Mykonos in August 2020., in which he faced charges of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery.

He has denied the charges and said he would appeal.

(c) Sky News 2026: Manchester United stars Harry Maguire and Matheus Cunha prosecuted for speeding