Carlo Ancelotti Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Tax Fraud
Brazil’s national team coach and former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been handed a one-year prison sentence and a fine of nearly €400,000 after a Spanish court found him guilty of tax fraud.
The case stems from his time at Real Madrid during the 2014–2015 season. Prosecutors accused the 66-year-old of hiding over €1 million in image rights earnings using offshore shell companies, effectively keeping the Spanish taxman in the dark.
Carlo Ancelotti Sentenced to One Year in Prison Over Tax Fraud
They originally wanted a much harsher punishment, almost five years in prison, but the court settled on a 12-month suspended sentence and a €386,000 fine. He was only convicted for the 2014 financial year and cleared of charges for 2015.
Ancelotti denied any wrongdoing during his court appearance in April, saying he believed everything was in order. Still, the court ruled that he had failed to declare significant income and had “committed an offence against the tax authorities.”
Despite the prison sentence, Ancelotti won’t actually serve time. In Spain, first-time, non-violent offenders given sentences under two years usually avoid jail — a legal loophole that’s spared several football stars before him.
Part of a Long List of Tax Cases in Spanish Football
Ancelotti now joins a long list of high-profile football names who’ve been caught in similar tax sagas:
In 2016, Lionel Messi and his father, Jorge, were sentenced to 21 months for dodging over €4 million in image rights taxes while at Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo struck a deal with prosecutors in 2018 and paid €18.8 million to avoid jail after admitting to tax fraud during his Real Madrid years.
José Mourinho also agreed to pay €2.2 million in 2019 for dodging taxes during his time managing Real Madrid. In 2020, Atlético Madrid striker Diego Costa pleaded guilty to tax evasion tied to his 2014 Chelsea transfer and paid over €500,000 in fines.
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The post Carlo Ancelotti Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Tax Fraud appeared first on iHarare News.
