Spartak Moscow would not do well to shield Quincy Promes from the Dutch authorities, says Evgeniy Levchenko. The chairman of the players’ union VVCS reacts in an interview with the Russian RB-Sport on the news that the attacker is being charged with attempted murder. According to Levchenko, if Promes refuses to cooperate and is protected by Spartak, it will reflect badly on the club.
Promes is suspected of stabbing his cousin in the knee with a knife during a family party in Abcoude last year. The Public Prosecution Service announced on Thursday that the fifty-time international is being prosecuted for attempted manslaughter. Gerard Spong, lawyer for Promes, did not want to speak to the media on Thursday and a spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service said that it will become clear whether the ex-Ajacied will show up after a summons has been issued. Should Promes choose to attend the hearing, the criminal case can be handled in the usual way.
Victim wants Quincy Promes to be prosecuted for attempted murder
The victim and his lawyer Yehudi Moszkowicz want Promes to be prosecuted for attempted murder.
“If he refuses to show up, there will be huge consequences,” said Levchenko. “He will then be denied access to a large number of countries. Only countries with which there is no extradition treaty remain.” If Promes does not show up and is convicted, a European arrest warrant can be issued. Then he runs the risk of being arrested as soon as he sets foot across the border of a European country. “If Spartak cooperates with him not showing up, the international reputation of the club will be badly damaged. I foresee big problems for Promes if he refuses to cooperate with the police and the Public Prosecution Service.”
A Spartak spokesperson responded on Thursday evening by stating that Promes is “fully focused on the upcoming games”. Levchenko not only finds this reaction dubious, but also wonders to what extent it is possible. “It will be mentally very difficult for Promes to focus on the upcoming games after such news. But football is the only outlet he has left. It is a difficult situation.” The interview raises the possibility that Promes will get a Russian passport so that he can stay in Russia. “That option is there, but does Spartak want a player who, to say the least, has broken the law? Let’s face it, nobody wants to be associated with criminals.”
If Promes decides not to come to the Netherlands for the legal process, the court can hear the case in absentia. According to court reporter Saskia Belleman van The Telegraph it is more obvious that the Spartak attacker authorizes his lawyer to act on his behalf. “The downside of that scenario is that the lawyer was not at the family party. Promes, along with the victim, is the only one who knows exactly what happened, can answer questions and clear up misunderstandings. He has a great interest in this, because attempted manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of ten years,” said Belleman. A video connection can also be chosen if Promes chooses to stay in Russia.