Quincy Promes, the Spartak Moscow striker, is set to face court proceedings in the United Arab Emirates on March 5. He played in the 19th round of the Russian Premier League against Zenit St. Petersburg on February 29, but his travel to St. Petersburg was interrupted when he was detained at Dubai airport. The detention stems from a February 20 traffic incident during a training camp with the red-and-white team, in which Promes left the scene of the collision.
According to insider journalist Ivan Karpov on his Telegram channel, Promes is not expected to spend time behind bars in the UAE and could receive a fine. Still, UAE law can impose a prison sentence of several decades for leaving the scene of an accident, with the potential for up to four years in prison if repeated offenses are proven. Such a scenario would require multiple violations to occur for a harsher outcome.
Karpov also noted that Promes is unlikely to be extradited to the Netherlands. In the past, Promes faced a two-year sentence in the Netherlands for an armed assault on a cousin and a six-year sentence for organizing a cocaine trafficking operation involving 1,300 kilograms of cocaine. The report suggests that there was a potential for extradition discussions, though officials did not publicly disclose details about Promes’s status or the specifics of any negotiations.
“The larger players resolved the issue, and it seems that the UAE is closer to Russia than to the EU in this regard,” Karpov wrote.
Following the court date, Promes would have his travel restrictions lifted and could return to Russia to rejoin Spartak. He is expected to be ready to participate in the March 10 league match against Fakel Voronezh in the 20th round of the Russian Premier League.
Possible outcomes
Initial reports tied Promes’s detention to a Dutch extradition request under a bilateral agreement in force since 2021. However, the Netherlands’ prosecutor clarified that no such request had been made, stating Promes was detained for a local offense instead. At the same time, Dutch authorities confirmed ongoing discussions about extradition, while stressing they would not comment on the process or Promes’s status or requests.
There are claims that Promes’s detention at Dubai airport was linked to a change in his Interpol status from blue to red after a February 14 Amsterdam District Court decision. In Interpol terminology, blue status involves location tracking and information gathering, whereas red notices imply immediate detention when detected. Critics question the reliability of such a status change, given that Interpol’s public database does not show a record for Quincy Promes.
Despite these complexities, the extradition threat remained real. The Netherlands could request a simplified detention process in the UAE, followed by a potential 60-day window for formal extradition proceedings. Time spent in custody in the UAE would count toward any sentence served in the Netherlands if extradition were approved.
Unclear status in the Emirates
Details about Promes’s status in the UAE have been inconsistent. Reports emerged that he might have been released from police custody with two Spartak staff members alongside him, while Dutch media suggested house arrest, though no formal documentation supported this claim. Separately, a separate social media moment drew attention: a nightclub post from an American rapper DreamDoll hinted at a social gathering in Dubai, with remarks that implied Promes’s involvement, though Promes himself was not present at the venue.
Promes reportedly has a UAE residence permit. While this status does not automatically shield him from extradition, it does add complexity to the case. Notably, he did not travel to Dubai with Spartak last year, instead training in Moscow, with no penalty issued at that time. Both the initial case and any subsequent appeals from Promes’s defense remain unresolved.
In terms of on‑field impact, Promes has appeared in 17 of 19 Russian Premier League matches for Spartak this season, contributing six goals and six assists. During the training stint in the Emirates, he played four matches and scored five goals, underscoring his value to the squad as the team approaches important league fixtures.
This case underscores the tangled mix of international law and professional sports, where a player’s conduct off the pitch can ripple into league play and national legal processes in multiple jurisdictions. Observers in Canada and the United States are watching closely, as high‑profile transfers, international crime proceedings, and extradition discussions can influence perceptions of player freedom, league integrity, and cross‑border sports governance.