Croatia’s anti-corruption police said yesterday they had charged three current and former senior officials from Dinamo Zagreb with tax evasion and siphoning off profits from player transfers.
The USKOK police force said the actions had cost the state 12.2 million kuna ($1.84 million) in unpaid taxes and taken 116 million kuna from the club.
State television said the three were former Dinamo chief executive Zdravko Mamic; his brother Zoran Mamic who is current Dinamo coach; and Damir Vrbanovic, a former Dinamo executive and the current top official of the Croatian soccer federation HNS.
Davids’s challenge to Tottenham
Former Dutch international Edgar Davids has challenged Tottenham to make finishing above north London rivals Arsenal in the Premier League a regular occurrence.
The former Spurs midfielder praised manager Mauricio Pochettino for instilling a winning mentality at Spurs and urged the team to drive on.
The 43-year-old said: “I think it’s very important for a club like Tottenham to stay at the top.
“To win the title is incredible but to finish second would be also nice. Why? Simply because then they can establish something that’s called a top team and no longer look forward to Arsenal – but look backwards.”
Mahrez rules out Paris SG move
Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez is convinced his future lies in England and has ruled out a move to French champions Paris St Germain this summer.
The 25-year-old, who joined Leicester from Ligue 2 club Le Havre in 2014, has been one of the Premier League’s standout performers so far.
The Algerian was named English soccer’s player of the year by the Professional Footballers’ Association on Sunday, the first Leicester player and first African to win the honour.
“Even today I am not excited about the prospect of PSG. It is my town, but I do not see myself going back,” Mahrez said.
“I don’t really want to go back to France. France does not really excite me, I love England.”
Nancy in Ligue 1
Nancy have joined Dijon in winning promotion to Ligue 1 next season following their 1-0 victory over Sochaux.
The Thistles were relegated in 2013 but, after a solitary goal from Clement Lenglet at the Stade Marcel Picot boosted them 12 points clear of fourth-placed Le Havre, their ascent was confirmed.
Dijon are already sure of a top-three berth while Metz, Le Havre, Red Star, Clermont and Auxerre remain in the hunt for automatic promotion.
Dortmund could re-sign Goetze
Borussia Dortmund’s general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke says his club would be interested in bringing Mario Goetze back from Bayern Munich, if the midfielder were to be put on the market.
Goetze joined Bayern from Dortmund in a controversial move in 2013 when the Bavarians activated a release clause in the player’s contract.
The 23-year-old has struggled to make the expected impact in Bavaria, however, and he has spent much of the current season as a back-up in Pep Guardiola’s side, raising suggestions he may be sold in the summer.
“If he were to come onto the market and if we were to receive a signal that he would be interested in coming back to us, then we would discuss it – of course we would,” Watzke said.
Narrow escape
Leicester City’s Demarai Gray dodged death after almost walking into the tail rotor blades of a helicopter prior to Sunday’s PFA Awards.
The 19-year-old winger was screamed at by officials at London’s Battersea Heliport before being escorted away from the area by a steward.
A fleet of helicopters ferried the Leicester squad to the awards soon after their thumping 4-0 win over Swansea City took them a step closer to their fairytale first English league title.
Fit-again Wilshere eyes England spot
Injury-plagued Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has set his sights on making the 23-man England squad that will be flying to France for the European Championships this summer.
The 24-year-old had been missing in action for 11 months after undergoing surgery in September for a fractured left tibia.
Despite playing just seven minutes of football for Arsenal so far this season, Wilshere is tipped to make Roy Hodgson’s squad, having played a crucial role in the qualifiers.
“What really matters is playing for the first team and getting back on the pitch,” Wilshere said.
“I’m not saying that I’m there yet. There’s a few games left and after that, hopefully I’ll go away with England to the Euros.
“It’s an exciting time.”