Wales national team manager Ryan Giggs has mutually agreed to not participate in the country’s Nov. 12 friendly against the US men’s national team, the Football Association of Wales announced Tuesday.
The news comes amid allegations of Giggs assaulting his girlfriend, after he was arrested and later released on bail. The incident occurred in Greater Manchester, with the woman reportedly suffering minor injuries and not needing any treatment.
In a statement on behalf of Giggs, the allegations were denied: “Mr Giggs denies all allegations of assault made against him. He is cooperating with the police and will continue to assist them with their ongoing investigations."
Wales will instead be managed by Robert Page and supported by Albert Stuivenberg, both for the USMNT tune-up match and their upcoming UEFA Nations League games against Finland and the Republic of Ireland. Their squad will be announced Thursday, according to a federation statement.
“Our agreed immediate priority is preparing the team for the upcoming international matches,” the FAW said in a release.
Giggs, a midfielder during his playing days, appeared in over 900 Manchester United matches before retiring in 2014. The 46-year-old has led Wales, his home country, since 2018.
