A veteran football figure, previously a key player for Spartak Moscow and a member of the Russian national team, has expressed concern about the criminal charges surrounding Quincy Promes. The remarks were quoted by Match TV and have drawn attention to the duration and seriousness of the case as it has unfolded over several years.
The observer noted surprise that the matter, which began in 2020, lingered for so long before a decision was reached. The comment reflected unease at the four-year timeline required to determine guilt in what was described as a drug-smuggling case. The speaker stressed that it would be hard to accept that Promes would act in a reckless or foolish manner, and suggested that the situation could involve sources or intermediaries, which, in the speaker’s view, did not fit the profile of the player in question.
Speculation also touched on potential legal implications beyond the case’s current jurisdiction. If the footballer were to be located in the United Arab Emirates, there is a possibility of arrest and extradition to the Netherlands. The individual offered a hypothetical about political asylum as a potential factor, while noting that responsibility for the matter, should it fall on Spartak Moscow, could complicate the club’s ability to manage the situation. The possibility of contract termination if Promes were detained was mentioned as a potential consequence.
On February 16, a spokesperson for the Amsterdam public prosecutor’s office confirmed that Quincy Promes had been placed on an international wanted list. The following week, an Amsterdam court issued a sentence of six years in prison for cocaine trafficking against Promes, with the hearing having taken place on January 24. The prosecutors had sought a longer penalty of nine years, and at present Promes is reported to be training with Spartak in the United Arab Emirates.
The case previously emerged in 2020 during a seizure of two drug shipments in the Belgian port of Antwerp, totaling roughly 1,370 kilograms. Investigators indicated that Promes was connected to the cargo, and there were claims of an association with a drug dealer named Pete Wartel, to whom Promes allegedly paid 250,000 euros in exchange for cocaine supposedly intended “for his own safety.”
Public prosecutors described Promes and Wartel as part of a broader criminal network, with the footballer reportedly positioned as one of the group’s leaders. Court records cited telephone conversations in which Promes discussed investing significant sums in drug trafficking and coordinating the delivery of illegal substances. The narrative, as presented by authorities, painted a picture of a player whose off-field dealings appeared to intersect with organized crime activity.
Since joining Spartak Moscow in February 2021, Promes has returned to the club after previously playing for them from 2014 to 2018. His time with the club culminated in a Russian championship during the 2016/17 season. In the current season, the striker has appeared in numerous Russian Premier League matches, contributing goals and assists while the team prepared for competition in domestic and regional fixtures in the UAE training camp. The evolving case has provoked debate about how a player’s legal troubles impact a club’s roster decisions and public image, particularly when the player remains active with the team during ongoing legal processes.
Observers have remarked that the Promes matter has drawn political attention beyond the courtroom, a development some describe as politicized. This dimension has influenced how the case is discussed in the media and within the football community, raising questions about accountability, due process, and the responsibilities of professional clubs when legal challenges involve their players.