Former Dutch international Quincy Promes wants to return to the Netherlands to defend himself in a criminal case, the forward and his lawyer told RTL Boulevard.
The 33-year-old Promes is to stand trial in two criminal cases. The former Ajax and Sparta Moscow winger was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin at a family party in 2020, and will have to sit out a six-year sentence for smuggling more than one thousand kilogrammes of cocaine through the port of Antwerp.
Promes was sentenced in absentia on both occasions, as he was residing and playing for Spartak Moscow in Russia. He currently plays for second-division side United FC in the United Arab Emirates, where he was arrested in March 2024 on the request of the Dutch prosecutor's office. Promes was released two months later, despite the Dutch government's extradition request.
'People say I'm on the run'
In an interview with RTL Boulevard, Promes, who still resides in Dubai, states that he could not leave Russia due to contractual obligations. "When I found out that my case was being heard in the Netherlands, I was already abroad, so it was difficult for me to make that decision and travel to the Netherlands when I had contractual obligations," said Promes.
"I can't bite the hand that feeds me at that moment. That's not how I am."
Quincy Promes featured for the Netherlands during EURO 2020Pro Shots Photo Agency / ddp USA / Profimedia
Promes and his lawyer, Cem Polat, will request an adjournment of the case as the 50-time Dutch international wants to return to the Netherlands under the conditions and proposals he will put forward. These include Promes' willingness to attend the court sessions and his readiness to fly to and from the Netherlands on the court's demand, "for example to give lectures to young people," on condition that he will not be arrested and can return to United FC.
"I won't lie: I miss the Netherlands very much and would like to return," Promes continues. "People often say that I am on the run, but I have been trying to contact the authorities for some time now to resolve the situation.
"I want to take responsibility in the Netherlands and continue my career. I can fly back and forth to the Netherlands a few times when called up, and then just continue playing football. That's what I want."
'I respect the justice system'
An admission of guilt is not included in the deal with the public prosecutor's office, Promes and Polat confirm. "I want to stay away from that, because then we'll get bogged down in the details. Guilt, innocence. And it's too early for that at the moment," said Polat, who instructed his client not to answer this question: "Those are substantive questions that I cannot comment on, on the advice of my lawyer."
Quincy Promes' case will continue on Tuesday with a pro forma hearing, which will discuss the current situation of the investigation into Promes.