Luka Modric: Is a jail sentence awaiting Croatia's World Cup hero?

Topics: World Cup, Russia 2018, Croatia, France, Luka Modric

There is the possibility of the 31-year-old Croatian skipper going to prison after the World Cup.

Luka Modric has, without doubt, captured the hearts of many with his consistent show of character, finesse and, leadership at this year's World Cup. As seen in matches gone by he's been immense and instrumental for Croatia and it's almost as if his batteries do not run out looking at what he's offered so far for his side.

On the field of play, all he thinks about is football - primarily how to put a hefty smile on the faces of about 4.5 million Croats keenly looking on. He and his compatriots have so far exceeded expectations and the mainstream narrative by securing a historic final berth at Russia 2018.

The possibility of a bigger landmark could be attained with a win over France on July 15 but all the probable merry-making would mean very little for Luka Modric who is at the crossroads with the laws of his motherland. The 31-year-old midfield maestro has been indicted for a false statement he made at a court hearing in June 2017 regarding his move from Dinamo Zagreb to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008.

The declarations were made during the tax fraud trial of Zdravko Mamic. The former executive director of Dinamo Zagreb himself has been handed a six-and-a-half-year jail sentence having been found guilty of defrauding the club of millions of euros in transfer fees while he was in charge.

Luka Modric is believed to have perjured himself in a bid to protect his former boss by falsely implying that he signed a contract with his Zagreb back in 2004 that spelt out the terms for future transfer fees. On the contrary, the prosecutors have more than enough reason to believe that he aided Mamic in 2008 to defraud his former club by signing an agreement which made him entitled to half of the future fees associated with his transfer.

The case will be fully ruled after Luka Modric wraps up the World Cup with Croatia in Russia. However, looking at the fate of Zdravko Mamic, things are not looking great for the man who could become a national hero on July 15.