Ancelotti denies tax fraud as prosecutors seek jail time
The Spanish state prosecutors seek a jail term of four years and nine months for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti for tax fraud.
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What actually happened?
The Madrid state prosecutor’s office accused the Italian of defrauding the country’s tax office by failing to declare his earnings.
Ancelotti, 64, faces two counts of tax fraud from 2014 to 2015 regarding his earnings for image rights that add up to over €1 million ($1.09m).
“Although he himself declared himself to be a tax resident in Spain and indicated that his home was in Madrid, he only declared in his tax returns the personal remuneration received from Real Madrid,” the tax office said in a statement.
A Spanish court in July ordered Ancelotti to face trial, but no date has been set.
Ancelotti denies tax fraud allegations
Meanwhile, the renowned coach denied all the accusations.
“It’s an old story that started years ago,” Ancelotti said after Real Madrid beat RB Leipzig 2-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League quarterfinals.
“The prosecutor’s office thinks that I was a resident [for tax purposes] and we think I wasn’t. I’ve paid the fine and the money is with the prosecutor’s office.”
“I’m convinced that I’m innocent. Let’s see what the judge decides.”
Ancelotti joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 but only lasted two years.
The former Chelsea and AC Milan coach returned with the great Spanish club in June 2021.
Spain’s crackdown on tax evasion
Numerous players and coaches were also investigated by Spanish tax authorities.
Football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 2016 and 2019, respectively.
Former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho reached a guilty plea for tax fraud in 2019.
