Croatia court drops Modric perjury charges

AFP  |  Zagreb 

A has dropped charges that and Real Madric star Luka gave false testimony in a corruption trial, a said on Monday.

The ruling, which closes the case, comes as is hoping to be awarded the 2018 Ballon d'Or in on Monday for taking his team to finals in

lost to in the final but the small nation was overjoyed by its historic run, which temporarily quieted anguish over corruption and other problems plaguing the sport.

In March, Croatian prosecutors had charged Modric, 33, with committing perjury during evidence he gave in the multi-million-euro corruption trial of former Dinamo Zagreb boss

testified in June last year over the details of his 2008 transfer from Dinamo to League club Tottenham Hotspur.

He went on to join Real Madrid in 2012.

Mamic and three other defendants were found guilty of charges of abuse of power and corruption that cost Dinamo, the current Croatian champions, more than 15 million euros ($17.3 million), and the state 1.5 million euros.

Mamic, who is currently in hiding in neighbouring Bosnia, was sentenced in June to six and a half years in jail.

Prosecutors allege cash was embezzled through fictitious deals related to transfers.

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First Published: Mon, December 03 2018. 22:06 IST