GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Carlo Ancelotti, the current head coach of Brazil’s national football team and former manager of Real Madrid, has been sentenced to one year in prison by a Spanish court over tax fraud committed during his time in Spain in 2014.
According to Spanish news agency EFE, Ancelotti was found guilty of failing to fully declare his earnings during his first stint as Real Madrid manager. The court concluded that the veteran Italian coach defrauded the Spanish tax authorities by omitting significant income especially from image rights on his 2014 tax return.
In addition to the prison sentence, the 65-year-old has been fined €386,361.93. The Spanish Prosecutor’s Office had earlier accused him of defrauding a total of €1,062,079, split between the 2014 (€386,361) and 2015 (€675,718) fiscal years.
However, Ancelotti was acquitted of charges relating to the 2015 tax year, particularly with regard to the declaration of income from image rights.
Despite the sentence, Ancelotti is unlikely to serve jail time. Under Spanish law, first-time offenders convicted of non-violent crimes with prison terms under two years are typically granted suspended sentences or alternative penalties, such as fines or community service.
The ruling does not immediately affect Ancelotti’s position as Brazil’s head coach. However, the legal cloud could present challenges as he prepares to lead the national team into key international competitions.
Ancelotti, one of the most successful managers in football history, has had a decorated coaching career across Europe’s elite clubs, including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. His conviction is the latest in a string of tax-related cases involving high-profile football personalities in Spain.
