Scandal-tainted Giggs skips United training
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Ryan Giggs missed Manchester United's open training session on Tuesday a day after being named in Parliament as the player at the center of a high-profile privacy case.
Giggs was pictured on the front pages of national newspapers after he was identified by a member of parliament as the footballer who had gained a High Court injunction preventing allegations of an affair being published. A judge granted an injunction preventing media from publishing allegations that Giggs had an affair with reality television contestant Imogen Thomas, but Giggs' name had been spread all over the Internet and Twitter.
The 37-year-old Welshman was not the only player missing from training as the English title winners prepared for Saturday's Champions League final against Barcelona at Wembley. Defender Rafael, midfielder Paul Scholes, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and striker Dimitar Berbatov also sat out a session watched by around 200 reporters.
Giggs, one of United's most influential players this season, is expected to be in the starting line-up against the Spanish champion.
Police also said a group of men vandalized cars belonging to reporters which were parked outside Giggs' home on Tuesday.
"Officers attended and discovered at least six cars had been vandalized after a group of offenders arrived in a Ford Transit van and attacked the vehicles," Greater Manchester police said in a statement. Local media said tires were slashed, and cars pelted with flour and eggs.
Later, United manager Alex Ferguson told an aide to ban an Associated Press reporter after he asked a question about Giggs.
AP's Rob Harris asked about the importance of 37-year-old Giggs to the team. "All of the players are important, every one of them," Ferguson snapped back.
Broadcaster Sky News later broadcast Ferguson's whispered comments to a club media officer.
He was heard saying, "the guy that asked the question about Giggsy ... at the press conference".
She replies: "Which one?"
Ferguson responds: "Him that asked the question ... who?"
The press officer replied: "Oh yeah, I'll tell you later."
"Is he coming on Friday?"
The press officer asks: "The guy with the laptop?"
Ferguson replies: "Aye. Then we'll get him. Ban him on Friday."
Giggs played in Gary Neville's testimonial match against Juventus on Tuesday evening.
