Belgrade – Serbian football international Aleksandar Prijovic was sentenced to three months of home detention for violating lockdown rules in connection with the novel coronavirus pandemic, local media reported on Sunday.
The Saudi side Al Ittihad striker was arrested on Friday for breaking the rule banning groups larger than five and was arrested along with over dozen people attending an impromptu party in a Belgrade hotel.
Prijovic pleaded guilty with the Belgrade prosecutor’s office in exchange for the mildest punishment a day later while his verdict still needs to be verified by a court.
Prijovic, 29, is billed as the wealthiest Serbian player, with a four-and-a-half-year, 19.25-million euros (20.8 million dollars) contract from January 2019.
According to the daily Blic, Al Ittihad are unhappy with Prijovic’s performance, however his contract is guaranteed and can be terminated without pay only if he harms the club’s image.
The report speculates that the arrest and the sentencing may provide the Saudi side an argument to cut Prijovic without compensation. (dpa/NAN)
