March 16 – The coach of Dinamo Zagreb, who play Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League on Thursday, has resigned after having a prison sentence for fraud and tax evasion confirmed by Croatia’s supreme court.
Zoran Mamic (pictured) was given a five-year jail term along with his brother Zdranko in 2018. The supreme court reduced Mamic’s sentence by three months but said he has to serve the rest.
“Although I don’t feel guilty, I resign as I said before I would do if the sentence was confirmed,” Mamic said in a statement on the Dinamo Zagreb website. “I wish all the good luck to the club.”
Spurs take a 2-0 first-leg last-16 lead to Zegreb for the return tie but now have a psychological advantage too. Dinamo have appointed former player Damir Krznar to take over.
Mamic’s brother Zdravko, Dinamo’s former executive director who fled to neighbouring Bosnia when first charged, also had his sentence confirmed by the court as did former tax official Milan Pernar and former Dinamo director Damir Vrbanovic.
The brothers were charged with embezzling the equivalent of $18 million from the sale of Dinamo Zagreb players to foreign clubs, including Luka Modric to Tottenham in 2008, and for tax evasion worth $2 million.
“The Supreme Court has confirmed the Osijek Municipal Court’s verdict sentencing Zdravko Mamic to six and a half years of imprisonment for the embezzlement of 116 million kuna (£13.13 million) from Dinamo football club,” said the statement published by HRT.
“Zoran Mamic’s sentence has been reduced to four years and eight months from four years and 11 months, while Milan Pernar had his sentence reduced to three years and two months from four years.”
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