Modric and Kovacic embroiled in embezzlement scandal

The greatest punishment when to the former club president himself, Mamic, who was sentenced to six years and six months in prison. Mamic had moved to Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) yesterday: ''to find peace and stability'' before the verdict was given. When asked if he had any intention to return to Croatia to face his punishment, the 58-year-old said: ''I will certainly be staying in BiH.''

Speaking at a press conference in Medjugorje after the sentence was handed down, he said: ''To condemn an innocent like that! Those monsters will not be able to sleep peacefully anymore.''

Mamic argued that there was ''no evidence'' against him and that Modric himself had testified for him, whilst also insinuating that he would be appealing the ruling. 

The former leader of Dinamo, the most important club in the Balkan country, said: ''My answer will be a weapon not to shoot, but a civilised weapon, and it will be something that has not yet been seen in Croatia and BiH.''

His brother, Zoran Mamic, former coach of the first team, was sentenced today in the same trial to four years and 11 months in prison.

Damir Vrbanovic, former president of the Croatian Federation and also a former director of Dinamo, was sentenced to three years in prison, and an employee of the Ministry of Finance, considered complicit in the plot, for four years and two months.

The Osijek provincial court, where the trial has been held since April 2017, considered that the four defendants are guilty of causing €15million of losses to Dinamo and tax evasion to the sum of €1.5million. 

The court held them responsible, among other crimes, for illegal monetary transfesr abroad through companies in tax havens, related to transfer operations of several Dinamo players, such as Modric to Tottenham in 2008 or Kovacic to Inter Milan in 2013.

Zdravko Mamic will have to return some €7million of the illegally appropriated funds, the ruling added. When the sentence is confirmed by a higher court, the money will be confiscated from his bank accounts and his daughter's bank accounts.

Zdravko and Zoran Mamic resigned in 2016 from their positions both at Dinamo and the Federation, after the Prosecutor opened several investigations against him. The Osijek Prosecutor's Office accused Modric in March of giving false testimony at the Mamic trial, a testimony different from the one he gave during the judicial investigation.