In a stunning turn of events, Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric and former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren have once again faced charges in Croatia on Thursday, this time for allegations of perjury related to their financial dealings with a former director of Dinamo Zagreb – who had previously been convicted of embezzlement and tax fraud amounting to millions of dollars.
Luka Modric, the talented midfielder, finds himself entangled in another legal battle as he faces accusations of perjury in Croatia, specifically regarding his financial agreements. The charges stem from his association with Zdravko Mamic, who was convicted in 2018 on multiple counts, including illicit gains from player transfer contracts during his tenure at Dinamo Zagreb. These deals involved Modric’s move to Tottenham in 2008 and Lovren’s transfer to Lyon in 2010. Mamic received a prison sentence of six and a half years but managed to flee to Bosnia before the verdict was announced.
Modric and Lovren have been accused of perjury and failure to declare taxes on substantial earnings from lucrative transfers to foreign clubs. However, prior to the 2018 World Cup, both star players were cleared of these charges by a Croatian court, where they showcased exceptional performances that propelled Croatia to the final before succumbing to the French national team. Modric even received the prestigious Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best Men’s Player awards in 2018. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove Modric and Lovren’s involvement in perjury.
Nevertheless, Croatian prosecutors declared on Thursday that they have gathered enough evidence to suggest that Croatia’s captain, Modric, and Lovren committed perjury during the initial trial. They believe that there was an agreement in place where Mamic signed personal contracts with players during their early developmental years at Dinamo Zagreb, including Modric and Lovren. This agreement obligated the players to share their earnings from “external” transfer contracts with him. Once the transfer deals were finalized, the players would make payments to Mamic.
Earlier this month, from Bosnia, Mamic claimed that he never received certain amounts of money and accused Modric and Lovren of being “accomplices” in the ongoing case. “We met and signed a money-sharing agreement; he (Modric) withdrew the money and gave me a portion. No player in history has ever paid a single penny in taxes,” Mamic declared while speaking to reporters in Bosnia.
If found guilty of perjury, both high-profile players could face prison sentences ranging from six months to five years. The date for the trial has yet to be determined, but the football world awaits with bated breath as this scandal continues to unfold.
