Involved In Embezzlement, Coach Dinamo Zagreb Was Sentenced To 4 Years 11 Months In Prison

Pelatih Dinamo Zagreb Zoran Mamic (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Dinamo Zagreb coach Zoran Mamic resigned from his post after being convicted of fraud. This news comes ahead of Dinamo hosting Tottenham Hotspur in this week's Europa League round of 16 second leg.

Croatia's Supreme Court on Monday sentenced him to four years and 11 months imprisonment for embezzling funds at the club Dinamo Zagreb, Croatian national television HRT reported.

Mamic immediately responded to this decision by resigning from his position, as stated by Dinamo in a statement on his official website.

"Although I don't feel guilty, I resign as I said when the verdict has been passed. I wish the club all the best," Mamic said in a statement on Dinamo's official website.

With Mamic's departure, Dinamo named former player Damir Krznar as a substitute who will start taking the lead as they seek to overturn a 0-2 deficit against Tottenham at the Maksimir Stadium on Friday.

Zoran's brother Zdravko - who is also a former executive director of Dinamo and now based in Bosnia-Herzegovina - was sentenced to six and a half years in the same case, while tax officer Milan Pernar was sentenced to three years and two months in prison.

Another former director of Dinamo, Damir Vrbanovic, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for his role in committing tax evasion of 12.2 million kuna (approximately Rp.28.6 billion) and for removing 116 million kuna (approximately Rp.262.8 billion) from the transfer of Dinamo players.