The Russian Football Union’s General Secretary, Maxim Mitrofanov, commented on the repercussions within the Russian Premier League following the arrest of Spartak Moscow forward Quincy Promes. His assessment was reported by Sports24 and aimed at clarifying what the incident means for Russian football overall and for Spartak in particular.
Mitrofanov stressed that Promes’s trouble should not be viewed as a stain on the sport in Russia. He said the issue does not reflect on Russian football as a whole, but it does represent a reputational setback. He urged patience while official court proceedings unfold, noting that the situation is deeply unfortunate for the club and the league alike. In his view, this is a problem for Spartak, not a fault of the league’s broader structure.
Promes was detained in the United Arab Emirates on March 13 after a traffic incident in which he allegedly left the scene following a collision with a bus. Prior to the incident, he had been under house arrest. The Netherlands has signaled intentions to seek his extradition, highlighting the international dimension of the case.
Earlier, on February 14, a court in Amsterdam sentenced Promes to six years in prison on charges related to cocaine trafficking. The hearing occurred on January 24, with prosecutors seeking a nine-year term. On February 16, Promes was placed on Interpol’s wanted list. Additionally, he faces a separate conviction tied to a stabbing, which carries a sentence of 1.5 years. These legal developments add layers to a case that has drawn scrutiny across European and international football circles.
The overall transfer value of Promes has been affected by these legal matters, with clubs and leagues reassessing risk and expectations around top-level talent transfer, along with sponsorship and broadcast considerations. The incident has prompted discussions about discipline, player welfare, and the responsibilities of clubs to manage players abroad, especially when legal troubles arise. The RFU and the league continue to monitor the case, focusing on integrity, fair play, and the impact on fans, youth development, and the sport’s reputation in Russia. As investigations proceed, the football community remains attentive to official outcomes and their possible consequences for competition and governance in Russian football, while also acknowledging the broader international legal context surrounding Promes.
(Source: RFU communications summarized by Sports24, with official court updates and extradition discussions from Dutch authorities and UAE authorities bearing on the case.)