Football: Ancelotti Tax Evasion Case Outcome
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
Former Real Madrid Manager and now Brazil National Team Coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who is 66 years old, has been sentenced to one year in prison by a Spanish Court for tax evasion.
However, he will not have to spend any time in prison but will have to pay a fine of €386,361.93.
Under Spanish law, any sentence under two years for a non-violent crime rarely requires a defendant, without previous convictions, to serve time in prison.
The former Chelsea and Everton Manager was accused of failing to pay tax of €1million on his salary during his first period when he was with Real Madrid from 2013 to 2015.
Ancelotti ended his second period with Real Madrid at the end of last season, when he moved to his present Brazil position.
Ancelotti stated in Court that:
“He never thought about committing fraud.”
Ancelotti also stated that he was offered a net salary of €6 million by the Spanish Football Club and that he left the structuring of it to his financial advisers.
And added that:
"I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach had [done the same]."
In December 2021, Ancelotti paid the tax due.
Lionel Messi, when he played for Barcelona, was initially given a 21-month prison sentence in 2017, but this punishment was reduced to a fine of €252,000, without any prison term.
Cristiano Ronaldo, when he played for Real Madrid, accepted a fine of €18.8 million in 2019.
Whilst Jose Mourinho, was fined €2.2 million relating to tax offences during his time as Real Madrid Manager from 2011-12.
It would appear that all of them need to find better financial/tax advisers!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
