Luka Modric And Dejan Lovren Allegedly Giving False Information At Trial

Croatian national team player Luka Modric. (Photo: Instagram/@lukamodric10)

JAKARTA - The testimony of Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren at the trial of former high-ranking Dinamo Zagreb Zdravko Mamic in 2017 had a long tail.

Both of them are now charged with providing false information at the trial related to football corruption.

At that time, he was asked for testimony regarding the details of the transfer of the two from the Croatian League champions club, as quoted from AFP via Antara.

At that time Modric explained the details of Dinamo's transfer to Tottenham Hotspur that occurred in 2008. He then joined Real Madrid in 2012.

Meanwhile, Lovren explained the details of the transfer that occurred in 2010, from Dinamo to French club Lyon.

The two players were charged with giving false testimony in 2018, but the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence. Modric's indictment was withdrawn in 2018, and Lovren only got the same thing in 2019.

On Thursday (29/6), prosecutors from Osijek City sued two people by simply mentioning their birth anniversary, for giving false testimony. Local media identified them as Modric and Lovren.

Modric was charged with giving false testimony in 2017 by the Osijek Court, the prosecutor said, citing the date when the Real star testified at Mamic's trial. Meanwhile, Lovren was indicted on September 1, 2017.

In Croatia, the maximum sentence for false testimony is five years in prison.

Mamic and three others were found guilty of abuse of power and corruption, which cost Dinamo more than 15 million euros and the country 1.5 million euros.

According to the indictment, they embezzled money through a fictitious agreement while making transfers of players.

Mamic, who is said to be one of the criminal kingpins in the Balkan country's football, is currently hiding in Bosnia. He was charged with six and a half years in prison.

Modric was charged just days after Real confirmed he remained at the club for another season, having extended his contract until June 2024.

The player made his lead at the 2018 World Cup, to bring Croatia forward until the final before finally losing to France.