Nazem Kadri’s family is not happy that the Toronto Maple Leafs forward has been linked with his uncle who has been charged for his role in an alleged illegal sports gambling operation earlier this week.
Hiesam Kadri turned himself into police on Thursday and was released on bail after a court appearance. After reports in the media associated Nazem’s name with the story, the Kadri family was quick to shoot down the connection.
“(Nazem) has nothing to do with it and we have nothing to do with it, so it’s irrelevant,” Kadri’s father, Sam, told QMI Agency. “My son is in a media-driven, crazy city and he has to concentrate on hockey, that’s all there is. It’s very upsetting to our family right now and of course it’s upsetting to Nazem.”
Kadri’s agent, Brian MacDonald, admitted he was frustrated Kadri has been the focus the media reports when he has nothing to do with his uncle’s alleged role in the gambling operation.
“There’s a blood connection (but) there is no connection between Nazem and the investigation and to use Nazem’s name is about selling papers,” MacDonald said to QMI Agency.
“The picture and the (focus of stories) is Nazem and then it gets to his uncle. To me, that’s making an innuendo that he’s involved with this and that’s totally wrong. … If Nazem did something wrong or even his immediate family … (but) this is reaching,” MacDonald added.
MacDonald says he has already contacted some TV and radio stations about using his client’s name in the reports makes an assumption that Kadri is connected, which he believes can be “defamatory.”
The Leafs forward has yet to comment on the issue.
