Dinamo Zagreb’s preparations for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Tottenham are in disarray after their manager Zoran Mamic resigned after being sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for fraud.
Former Zagreb and Croatia midfielder Damir Krznar is set to take charge of the team ahead of this week’s last-16 second-leg tie at Maksimir Stadium after Mamic stepped down following his sentence.
“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 said in a statement published via Dinamo’s official website.
Mamic's brother Zdravko, Dinamo's former executive director who is at large in neighbouring Bosnia, also had his sentence confirmed by the court as did 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 ($18.26 million) from Dinamo football club," said the statement published by Croatian 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."
The court also confirmed the three-year prison sentence for former Dinamo director Damir Vrbanovic.
They had been charged with tax evasion worth 12.2million kuna and for siphoning off 116m kuna from transfers of players from Dinamo.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
