Luka Modric's post-season celebrations following Real Madrid's La Liga and Champions League winning campaign have been cut short, with the Croatian midfielder facing perjury charges in his home country.
If found guilty the former Tottenham man could be sentenced to five years in prison.
The charges relate to a testimony Modric gave during the trial of former Dinamo Zagreb chief executive, Zdravko Mamic.
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Mamic is one of the most influential figures in Croatian football and is currently on trial alongside another two former senior Dinamo officials and a tax official. The four men are being charged with embezzlement and tax fraud.
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Modric's involvement stems from a testimony he gave as a witness regarding the officials avoiding making payments of 12.2m Kuna (£1.44 million) in taxes and that they diverted 116 million Kuna (£13.7m) from Dinamo, according to anti-corruption police.
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In a statement, the state attorney said, "The witness falsely said that on 10 July, 2004, the date when he signed his first professional contract, he also signed an annex on the basis of which he had acquired a right to a 50:50 share in transfer fees."
The former Spurs man claimed during his original testimony that the 'annex' - his half of a 50/50 split of the transfer fee received by Dinamo from Spurs - was sgned and backdated after he was sold.
However, Modric later said that he was confused when giving his original account and has since changed his version of events.
Given his imperious form for Real Madrid over the past five years, Los Blancos will be praying Modric isn't found guilty. Image: PA
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The state attorney has also said that Modric falsely claimed that he signed a similar annex with every contract extension.
The full statement from the attorney's office read:
"State Attorney's Office in Osijek opened the investigation against Croatian citizen (1985) due to the existence of reasonable doubt that when giving testimony before the County Court in Osijek committed a crime against justice by giving false testimony under Article 305, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code / 11. (6th 19th 2017).
"There is a reasonable doubt that on 13 June 2017 at the Osijek County Court, during a hearing in a criminal case against the first accused Croatian citizen (1970) and others, for the criminal offence of abuse of position and authority in Article 291, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the CC / 11; although he was warned that a witness is obliged to tell the truth and that is giving a false statement offence; examined as a witness falsely testified that the annex to the agreement."
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If found guilty of perjury, Modric could face anywhere between six months and five years in a Croatian prison.
Mamic and his fellow defendants all deny their charges.
(H/T The Guardian)
Topics: Football, Croatia, Luka Modric
