The trial of Ryan Giggs has been adjourned until August 8th due to a lack of space at Manchester Crown Court.
The former Manchester United winger, currently Wales boss, was due to face trial on Monday January 17th, after being accused of coercive behaviour and assault against his ex-girlfriend and her sister.
But a hearing was told there was no space in the building. The Wales manager was "extremely disappointed", his barrister, Chris Daw, QC, said.
Judge Hilary Manley said on Tuesday: "Unfortunately it has become necessary to vacate this trial from the list. The reason for this is because there is not a court available to accommodate this trial."
"Due to the large backlog of court cases, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the need for social distancing, this is a situation which is a daily reality for the criminal courts."
Giggs, 48, has pleaded not guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour against his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville between August 2017 and November 2020.
He has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Ms Greville causing her actual bodily harm, and common assault of her younger sister, Emma Greville, at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1 2020.
All parties agreed to the new start date for the trial, which will last a minimum of five days.
Giggs did not manage Wales at Euro 2020, with Robert Page acting as caretaker for the Dragons at last summer's tournament.
The 13-time Premier League winner pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in July, while Manchester Crown Court heard how he allegedly kicked his ex-girlfriend and threw her naked out of their hotel bedroom.
The clerk read out details of Giggs' alleged controlling and coercive behaviour towards Kate, which included:
- Messaging her and/or blocking her when she was on nights out with others, or she asked about your relationship with others.
- Threatening to send e-mails to her friends and her employers about your sexual relationship and behaviour.
- Throwing her belongings out of your house when she questioned you about relationships with other women.
- At the Stafford Hotel in London, kicking her in the back, and then throwing her out of the hotel bedroom naked, followed by throwing her bag at her when she accused you of flirting with other women.
- Sending constant unwanted messages and making constant unwanted calls to her and her friends when she tried to break off the relationship.
- After she had tried to break off the relationship, regularly turning up unannounced and uninvited at her home, workplace and gym.
Giggs, who is a co-owner of League Two side Salford City, is also involved in a separate civil dispute with his ex-girlfriend over ownership of a pet.