Ryan Giggs snubbed by Premier League Hall of Fame

Ryan Giggs’ Premier League Hall of Fame wait is still dragging on.

On the pitch, Giggs’ United career is basically the benchmark for longevity and output.

Across all competitions he racked up 963 appearances, scoring 168 goals and providing 274 assists, while logging more than 71,000 minutes in United colours.

He made his debut in 1991 and stayed for over two decades, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies and four FA Cups in the process.

As such, it comes as a surprise to many that the former Wales international isn’t in the Premier League Hall of Fame.

However, The Times now reports that the former Manchester United winger was invited to be an inaugural Hall of Fame member in 2020 alongside Alan Shearer, only for that offer to be withdrawn later, with Thierry Henry inducted instead.

The key turning point, as outlined, came in 2021 when Giggs was charged with domestic abuse and coercive or controlling behaviour.

Giggs was cleared in 2023 after his former girlfriend declined to give evidence in a retrial, but he still has not been selected since, despite questions being raised publicly about the decision-making.

The Hall of Fame launch event was initially impacted by the Covid pandemic, and the Premier League then moved on from Giggs’ planned involvement after the charge, replacing him with Henry.

It is understood there was contact between his representatives and the Premier League before the most recent Hall of Fame announcement in November.

The wider context is what keeps fuelling debate. Other Hall of Fame inductees have been included despite past legal or disciplinary issues, including Eric Cantona (convicted of assaulting a fan), Tony Adams (jailed for drink driving), John Terry (banned by the FA for racism) and Rio Ferdinand (banned for missing a drugs test).

For now, Ryan Giggs remains outside the Hall of Fame, and the next milestone is whether his name finally returns to the shortlist when the Premier League reviews it again, because at United, the biggest legacies don’t usually stay in the waiting room for long.