Brazil manager and former Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has been sentenced to prison over tax fraud.
The 66-year-old Italian failed to pay tax on his image rights revenue while he was Real Madrid boss in 2014.
Luckily for Ancelotti, Spanish law dictates that any sentence under two years for non-violent crime usually sees a defendant avoid serving jail time.
He therefore won’t spend any actual time behind bars, thanks to his 12-month sentence.
Instead, he has been fined more than £332,000.
And in better news for Ancelotti, he has been acquitted of a further tax charge from 2015, also relating to image rights.
He was first indicted for suspected tax irregularities in 2020, when he was managing Everton.
Ancelotti, who joined Brazil in June, was accused of defrauding the Spanish government of £833k between 2014 and 2015, during his first spell at Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti Hits Back After Tax Fraud Case
Speaking earlier this year, Ancelotti denounced the news.
He said: “This is an old story.
“The Prosecutor’s Office believes I was a resident in 2015, and I believe I wasn’t.
“The fine has been paid, and the case is in the hands of my lawyers.
“I’m convinced I’m innocent. Let’s see what the judge decides.”
Ancelotti denies the current allegations, though he did admit to underpaying tax in 2014, blaming errors by his former accountants.
During the trial, he told the court he did not intend to defraud the treasury.
Every Footballer And Manager Accused Of Tax Fraud
Cristiano Ronaldo
Portuguese icon Ronaldo was fined €18.8 million (£16.2 million) in 2019.
According to prosecutors, he dodged tax while playing for Real Madrid from 2010 to 2014.
Ronaldo, who is approaching 1,000 career goals, chose to settle the case in order to avoid a potential 23-month prison sentence.
Lionel Messi
In 2017, Lionel Messi was €252,000 (£223,000) by Spanish courts over tax fraud charges.
Initially handed a 21-month prison sentence, Messi was instead fined €400 for each day of the sentence.
Messi and father Jorge were found guilty of defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.4m) between 2007 and 2009.
His father was also fined €180,000.
The duo were found to be using tax havens in Uruquay and Belize to conceal earnings from image rights.
In 2013, Messi and his father made a voluntary “corrective payment” of €5m to make up for their unpaid tax bill.
Luka Modric
World Cup finalist and Croatian legend Luka Modric has also been in trouble for tax reasosn.
In 2018, he was given an eight-month suspended sentence and fined €348,000 (£330,000)
He entered a guilty plea of defrauding the treasury of €870,000 (£784,000).
Modrid is claimed to have used a Luxembourg-based company to help avoid paying tax while at Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho
And another high-profile figure is Joe Mourinho. The former Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea boss was fined €2m and given a one-year suspended prison sentence.
Mourinho spent three years with Madrid, when he accused of using offshore accounts in Ireland, New Zealand and the British Virgin Islands to hide image rights revenue.
He reportedly made a deal with authorities to serve two six-month, suspended sentences.
Radamel Falcao
Colombian striker and former Man United man Radamel Falcao was handed a 16-month suspended sentence for hiding £4.7 million.
He was fined £7.8 million for the trouble.
Neymar
Brazilian superstar Neymar had a brush with authorities in Spain and Brazil over a £14.7 million tax evasion charge.
He had millions worth of assets frozen, and was eventually cleared, but not before paying an £880,000 fine.
James Rodriguez
The Colombian was charged with £10 million in unpaid tax in Spain.
Spanish authorities agreed to drop the case, once Rodriguez agreed to pay a £3.3 million fine.
Angel di Maria
Ex-Manchester United winger Di Maria was given a one-year sentence for tax offences in Spain.
He was fined £1.6 million for dodging over £1 million in tax.
Marcelo
Brazilian fullback Marcelo was fined £1 million and given a four-month sentence after hiding £424,000 in tax.
Javier Mascherano
Another former Barcelona man, Javier Mascherano failed to pay £1.25 million in taxes.
He was given a one-year sentence and ordered to repay £1.8 million.
Iker Casillas
And finally, former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas had to settle with Spanish authorities in 2014.
He eventually paid £1.6 million back to the government.
