The match itself «Zenit» — «Spartak» » is of great interest. There is even a line in the unofficial anthem of the St. Petersburg club: “If the opponent is Spartak, do not forget your attacks…” Neither Dynamo nor CSKA received such an honor. The compilers of this season's calendar clearly grasped the trend and, so that after a long break, interest in the RPL would immediately reach the proper level, they staged the match in the first round after the resumption of the championship. Just not about football in the last days before the derby of the two capitals, as the confrontation between Zenit and Spartak is called, was spoken and written everywhere.
The Promes case is at the epicenter. The situation with the leader of the “red-white” attacks, Quincy Promes, who did not fly with the team to St. Petersburg, acquired more and more chilling details every day. Information had to be literally extracted from numerous sources familiar with the situation, gleaned between the lines of official responses to requests, and trusted insiders. You won’t envy one of the best press attachés in RPL clubs, Dmitry Zelenov. He remained silent for a very long time, apparently coordinating the official point of view of Spartak with the management, and only on Friday evening made the information public.
““Promes will miss the match with Zenit,” wrote the head of the press service of the Moscow club. “The football player is is still in the UAE. The club is in touch with him and is providing the necessary assistance in resolving the circumstances that did not allow him to fly to St. Petersburg on time. Considering that Promes will not participate in the game for personal reasons, after returning to Russia the club will apply to him disciplinary measures.»
It is difficult to find logic in this position of Spartak. If Promes stayed in the UAE for personal reasons, then why was it necessary to leave security officers there who might be needed during the match in St. Petersburg? Quincy got into trouble — let him get out of it with the help of his managers and agents. Fortunately, the salary at Spartak allows you to hire the best. If the club values its star so much, then what kind of disciplinary measures can we talk about? Quincy, with all his heart, was eager to score a hat-trick in the away match with Zenit, but circumstances that had nothing to do with football prevented him.
Recent events have simply erased the results of the campaign, which was initiated by Spartak veterans. Its motto could be the words attributed to US President Franklin Roosevelt and allegedly said about Nicaraguan President Antonio Samosa: “He’s a son of a bitch, of course, but our son of a bitch.” It is difficult to challenge court decisions and punishments imposed on Promes for matters that have nothing to do with football. But it is necessary to fight for Quincy to continue his career in the ranks of Spartak.
Last year, Promes was not taken to Spartak’s winter training camp, fearing his extradition to the Netherlands for sentencing. In this case, having previously issued a residence permit in the UAE, they decided that even if there was an extradition treaty between the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands, nothing would threaten the Spartak player. Only now events are taking a completely different turn.
All new details There is no official information about whether Promes was detained at passport control for an offense committed in the Emirates. On Friday, Dutch prosecutors said the arrest was not related to the football player's conviction in a drug smuggling case. He stayed at the Quincy police station for a short time and celebrated his release with a party with his girlfriend, which she reported on social networks.
He is only prohibited from leaving the UAE. However, some sources “familiar with the situation” claim that there was still a request for extradition and even changed its status by the time of his arrest. The Netherlands are interested in seeing Promes in Amsterdam and are convinced that the “drug dealer” should be in prison.
An appeal against the court's decision, which found Promes guilty of the dark deeds accused of him, was filed by the Spartak's lawyers. Until the verdict comes into force, he cannot be considered guilty. But is it necessary to conduct a wide campaign in his defense just because he scored great goals for Spartak in the RPL? Red-White veteran Yegor Titov rightly noted in an interview that because of the scandals associated with Promes, both the team and the club’s reputation suffer. I also noted that Spartak remained silent for a very long time.
Let us add that what has been said does not clarify the situation too much. Spartak missed time to save their reputation by not parting with Promes after the first calls from Amsterdam. It is simply naive to expect that Quincy's lawyers' appeal will be granted. Although no one has canceled the presumption of innocence. Interestingly, the player himself reacted to his detention on social networks with an emoji meaning a lie. Whatever that means.
There is one more important nuance. If you believe sources “familiar with the situation” (and, as recent events have shown, there is no reason not to believe them), Promes’ contract with Spartak contains the option of unilateral termination. It can be activated in case of sports disqualification and violation of doping rules or legislation.
According to sources, even the payment of compensation by the football player in the amount of 10 million euros is prescribed. This is slightly less than Promes’s salary at Spartak for three years, which, according to the same sources, is 11.5 million. But it’s not a fact that the Moscow club can claim it and receive it if the verdict comes into force. And this is a long process.
We can only wait for the results of the game with Zenit to understand how important Promes is for Spartak. The reputation of the club, which used to be a matter of honor for the “red-whites”, is at stake.