Ryan Giggs’ Ongoing Exclusion from the Premier League Hall of Fame: A Controversial Decision

omidbasir- Ryan Giggs was initially slated to be among the first three inductees into the Premier League Hall of Fame when it was established five years ago. According to The Telegraph, the former Manchester United winger—who is the most decorated player in the competition’s history—was set to headline the 2021 launch alongside renowned goalscorers Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry.

However, plans for the celebration were quickly altered behind closed doors. League executives reportedly decided to discreetly remove Giggs from marketing materials and the induction list as legal proceedings against him escalated. The Premier League, aiming to promote the Hall of Fame as a positive celebration of footballing excellence, determined that including Giggs could potentially result in a public relations disaster that would overshadow the initiative.

As a result, when the Hall of Fame was officially inaugurated, only Shearer and Henry were inducted as founding members. Giggs’ name was quietly omitted from discussions, and he was not included in subsequent fan votes, which honored fellow Manchester United legends such as Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, and David Beckham later that year.

The decision to rescind Giggs’ invitation was prompted by his arrest in November 2020 on allegations of assaulting his former girlfriend, Kate Greville, and her sister. He faced charges of assault and controlling or coercive behavior, leading to a high-profile legal battle that effectively interrupted his football career.

The timeline of the legal proceedings coincided directly with the rollout of the Hall of Fame. Giggs stood trial in 2022, but the jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict. A retrial was scheduled, but in July 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service formally withdrew the charges after Ms. Greville opted not to testify again.

A judge subsequently entered “not guilty” verdicts on all counts, exonerating Giggs legally. However, the protracted nature of the proceedings resulted in him being treated as “persona non grata” by the Hall of Fame organizers for the first three years of its existence. The Premier League’s 2021 decision to exclude him was a damage-control measure intended to safeguard the brand, yet it has established a long-term precedent that remains unaddressed.

Despite being legally cleared over two years ago, Giggs remains absent from the Hall of Fame as of 2026. His continued exclusion has created a statistical anomaly that becomes increasingly pronounced with each induction ceremony. Giggs holds the record for the most Premier League titles won (13) and the most assists in the competition’s history (162), far surpassing his closest competitors.

His appearance record (632) ranks second only to Gareth Barry, yet he has not featured on any public voting shortlist since the conclusion of his legal case. While his Class of ’92 teammates have been celebrated, the player who participated in every one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s title-winning campaigns remains sidelined.

This ongoing exclusion has sparked frustration from Giggs’ camp, who argue that he is being unjustly punished despite his acquittal. The situation escalated recently when the 2025 shortlist was announced, once again without including Giggs.

His brother, Rhodri Giggs, expressed his discontent on social media, labeling the Hall of Fame as a “sham” and emphasizing Ryan’s unparalleled trophy achievements, using the hashtag #TheShamHallOfFame.