Dutch footballer, Quincy Promes, has reportedly filed a request for visitation rights to the Netherlands without being arrested, despite two separate convictions for drug smuggling and violence.
The former Dutch international footballer was arrested at Dubai Airport last year, while arriving for a training camp with former club Spartak Moscow, for leaving the scene of a traffic accident while in the United Arab Emirates.
Promes, 33, has not been allowed to leave the country since and continues to play football for second-tier club FC Dubai United.
Last year, the winger was sentenced to six years in prison by the Dutch court for his involvement in smuggling over 1,350 kilos of cocaine in Antwerp back in January 2020.
That followed a separate 18-month prison sentence for stabbing his cousin, meaning Promes was sentenced to a total of seven-and-a-half years. He appealed both convictions and is yet to serve his time. He has since been arrested again at the behest of the Netherlands, but the UAE is yet to honour his extradition.
And now Dutch media outlet AD have reported thathe has requested to return to his home country with the ability to move freely, and a court hearing to determine the outcome of the request will take place in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
Promes is said to be willing to cooperate and attend a trial but has asked to not be taken into custody, a demand that was previously denied.
The ex-Ajax and Sevilla attacker now wants to tell his side of the story and has spoken to RTL Boulevard about his will to continue a football career.
‘I’m not going to lie that I miss the Netherlands very much and would like to come back,’ he told RTL Boulevard.
‘People have also often said that I am on the run, but I have been trying to get in touch with the justice department for some time to solve it.’
‘I want to answer for myself in the Netherlands and continue my career.
‘’And that I fly back and forth to the Netherlands a few times when I am called up and then I can just continue playing football. That is what I want.’
The Dutch’s extradition request was filed over a year ago, but it is yet to be seen if the UAE are getting any closer to allowing Promes to return to his homeland.
He signed a one-year deal at Dubai United in September of last year and has scored 13 goals in 19 appearances for the club.
