Former Manchester United midfielder Andrei Kanchelskis weighs in on the Promes case and the role of Russian football
In a recent interview with Metatations, former Manchester United midfielder Andrei Kanchelskis offered a pointed view on the ongoing case involving Quincy Promes. He argued that Russia should not impose sanctions on the Spartak Moscow forward, emphasizing that decisions made by courts abroad should not disrupt Promes’s standing in Russian football while he remains in the country. Kanchelskis underscored a clear distinction between domestic football responsibilities and international legal processes, suggesting that a player can live and work across borders without having those actions derail his status at home. This perspective aligns with a broader belief that external legal matters should not spill over into a player’s day to day duties with his club.
According to Kanchelskis, Promes is carrying out his duties as contracted, remaining with Spartak, and continuing to perform at a level expected by the club. He asserted that the Amsterdam authorities have their own judicial process to manage and resolve within their jurisdiction, and that Spartak should not be pulled into issues unfolding in Amsterdam simply because Promes has found himself involved. The spotlight, he suggested, should stay on Promes’s contributions on the pitch and his current role within the squad. The veteran winger also posed a practical question about Promes’s future citizenship, wondering whether the Russian state might grant him citizenship someday, and noting that Russia has begun to feel increasingly like a second home for the player. This stance reinforces the idea that a footballer can maintain multiple affiliations without compromising his place in Russian football.
On February 14, an Amsterdam court handed down a sentence of six years in prison for Promes on cocaine trafficking charges, a decision that followed a January 24 hearing in which prosecutors had sought a longer term. At that time, Promes was with Spartak at their training camp in the United Arab Emirates, continuing to train with the team despite the legal case hanging over him. The Amsterdam ruling has heightened tension between a player’s personal legal battles and professional obligations, raising questions about how clubs should respond when players face international charges and what this means for squad stability and performance.
The public conversation surrounding Promes and his future with Spartak has also drawn input from media figures who closely follow the case. Among them is Vasily Utkin, a well-known voice in Russian football broadcasting, who indicated he expected to reach out to Promes after the verdict to hear direct updates from the player. This planned outreach signals a desire within the football community to obtain firsthand perspectives on how the ruling might affect Promes and his role with Spartak in the months ahead, including potential impacts on team dynamics and strategy.