Dinamo Zagreb boss Zoran Mamic has resigned after confirmation from Croatia’s Supreme Court of a four-year and eight-month prison sentence for fraud was ruled on Monday.
The ruling comes just three days before the club’s second-leg Europa League tie with Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Shortly after the sentence was confirmed, Mamic stepped down as coach where the club’s statement quoted him saying, “Although I don’t feel guilty, I resign as I said before I would do if the sentence was confirmed. I wish all the good luck to the club.”
Mamic’s brother Zdravko, Dinamo’s former executive director, also had his sentence confirmed by the court as well as former tax official Milan Pernar and former Dinamo director Damir Vrbanovic.
“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 (£13.13m) from Dinamo football club,” said the statement published by Croatian state broadcaster 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 and two months.”
A three-year prison sentence for former Dinamo director Damir Vrbanovic was also confirmed by the court.
They had been charged with tax evasion worth 12.2 million Kuna (€1.6m) and for siphoning off 116 million kuna (€15.3m) from transfers of players from Dinamo.
Tottenham currently lead the Croatian champions 2-0 in the round of 16 Europa League clash going into Thursday’s match at the Stadion Maksimir.
Source: Reuters