After giving evidence in the tax fraud trial of 2017,
the Croatia international midfielder stands accused of providing a
“false testimony”
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been charged with perjury
relating to the tax fraud trial of former Dinamo Zagreb director
Zdravko Mamic in Croatia.
Modric is alleged to have given a “false testimony” in June 2017
when authorities were investigating his 2008 transfer from Dinamo
to Tottenham.
Mamic and three others are accused of corruption, having
allegedly taken a cut from player sales, ultimately costing Dinamo
and the state.
A crucial part of Modric’s situation relates to when he signed
an annex to his Dinamo contract, which detailed the terms of the
deal and a 50-50 split of any transfer fee he would later
generate.
According to prosecutors, Modric revealed to authorities in 2015
that the annex had been signed after his move to Tottenham.
But Modric, who could face up to five years in prison if found
guilty, then changed his testimony, claiming it had been signed in
2004, with prosecutors alleging this was done to favour Mamic.
The attorney’s office insist Modric was warned by the judge in
June “that he was obliged to tell the truth and that giving false
testimony is a criminal offence” upon bringing the charge against
him on Friday.
However, the Croatian Football Association (HNS) is “deeply
convinced” of Modric’s innocence and “stands firmly” with the
captain of the senior national team.
Their statement read: “The Croatian Football Association always
and consistently supports the principle of presumption of innocence
and considers every person innocent until proven otherwise.
“In a specific procedure, HNS is deeply convinced of the
correctness of Luka Modric’s testimony before the court in Osijek,
and especially because of Modric’s behaviour since his first
appearance for the Croatian U-15 team in March 2001 to date.
“In almost 20 years, Modric has shown himself as a character…
who is extremely responsible in his relationship with team-mates,
obligations to the national team and the Croatian state, whose play
in the national team and clubs has played a significant role in the
sporting world.
“Thanks to his immaculate sports career and behaviour in the
team, in 2016 he became the captain… and in international clubs he
was confirmed as the most successful Croatian football player in
history.
“Because of all this, the Croatian Football Association stands
firmly with its captain of the team and believes that this process
will confirm his innocence, as well as the unfoundedness of this
indictment.
“We are also convinced that, thanks to Modric’s unbeatable
character, this process will not have a negative impact on the
performance of the national team… at the FIFA World Cup in
Russia.”
After giving evidence in the tax fraud trial of 2017,
the Croatia international midfielder stands accused of providing a
“false testimony”
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has been charged with perjury
relating to the tax fraud trial of former Dinamo Zagreb director
Zdravko Mamic in Croatia.
Modric is alleged to have given a “false testimony” in June 2017
when authorities were investigating his 2008 transfer from Dinamo
to Tottenham.
Mamic and three others are accused of corruption, having
allegedly taken a cut from player sales, ultimately costing Dinamo
and the state.
A crucial part of Modric’s situation relates to when he signed
an annex to his Dinamo contract, which detailed the terms of the
deal and a 50-50 split of any transfer fee he would later
generate.
According to prosecutors, Modric revealed to authorities in 2015
that the annex had been signed after his move to Tottenham.
But Modric, who could face up to five years in prison if found
guilty, then changed his testimony, claiming it had been signed in
2004, with prosecutors alleging this was done to favour Mamic.
The attorney’s office insist Modric was warned by the judge in
June “that he was obliged to tell the truth and that giving false
testimony is a criminal offence” upon bringing the charge against
him on Friday.
However, the Croatian Football Association (HNS) is “deeply
convinced” of Modric’s innocence and “stands firmly” with the
captain of the senior national team.
Their statement read: “The Croatian Football Association always
and consistently supports the principle of presumption of innocence
and considers every person innocent until proven otherwise.
“In a specific procedure, HNS is deeply convinced of the
correctness of Luka Modric’s testimony before the court in Osijek,
and especially because of Modric’s behaviour since his first
appearance for the Croatian U-15 team in March 2001 to date.
“In almost 20 years, Modric has shown himself as a character…
who is extremely responsible in his relationship with team-mates,
obligations to the national team and the Croatian state, whose play
in the national team and clubs has played a significant role in the
sporting world.
“Thanks to his immaculate sports career and behaviour in the
team, in 2016 he became the captain… and in international clubs he
was confirmed as the most successful Croatian football player in
history.
“Because of all this, the Croatian Football Association stands
firmly with its captain of the team and believes that this process
will confirm his innocence, as well as the unfoundedness of this
indictment.
“We are also convinced that, thanks to Modric’s unbeatable
character, this process will not have a negative impact on the
performance of the national team… at the FIFA World Cup in
Russia.”