Carlo Ancelotti Tax Fraud Trial: Real Madrid Manager Faces Potential Prison Sentence
Real Madrid’s esteemed head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, is preparing to face a significant legal challenge as he stands trial in Spain on charges of tax fraud. The Italian manager, a prominent figure in the world of football, could potentially be sentenced to over four years in prison if found guilty of defrauding the Spanish treasury.
According to reports from Marca and other Spanish media outlets, Ancelotti’s trial is scheduled to commence next Wednesday at the Madrid Provincial Court. The veteran coach is accused of defrauding the Spanish public treasury of a substantial sum, amounting to €1,062,079, during his initial tenure at Real Madrid. The alleged offenses are said to have occurred across the fiscal years of 2014 (€386,361) and 2015 (€675,718).
Spanish prosecutors are reportedly seeking a prison sentence of four years and nine months for Ancelotti if he is convicted. It’s important to note that in Spain, prison sentences are typically suspended for first-time offenders if they are two years or less. However, the length of the sentence being sought against Ancelotti significantly exceeds this threshold, meaning a custodial sentence is a real possibility should he be found guilty.
The charges against the Real Madrid boss, as detailed in reports from The Athletic and other news sources, are centered around two distinct offenses against Spain’s Public Treasury. The core of the accusation revolves around the alleged failure to properly declare income derived from his image rights during his time in Spain, despite having declared himself a tax resident in the country.
Prosecutors allege that Ancelotti purportedly engaged in the creation of a complex system to manage his image rights through entities that lacked genuine operational activity and were based outside of Spain. This alleged scheme was designed, according to the prosecution, to obscure the true beneficiary of the income generated from Ancelotti’s image rights, thereby enabling him to evade taxes both in Spain and potentially abroad. It is further alleged that he signed private contracts assigning his image rights to these entities and subsequently modified these agreements to drastically reduce the declared prices, further contributing to the alleged tax evasion.
While Ancelotti has not publicly commented on these most recent trial reports, he did address the tax fraud allegations in an interview back in March 2024. At that time, he described the situation as an “old story, from 2015.”
In his earlier remarks, Ancelotti stated:
- “It’s an old story, from 2015.”
- “The Prosecutor’s Office thinks I was a resident of Spain [at that time] and I wasn’t.”
- “The money is already in the Prosecutor’s Office.”
- “Now it’s up to the lawyer to find a solution.”
- “I am convinced that I was not a resident and that I am innocent. Let’s see what the judge says.”
Tax Fraud Cases in Spanish Football: Ancelotti Joins List of High-Profile Figures
Carlo Ancelotti’s case is not isolated. Spanish football has unfortunately seen a number of prominent players and managers embroiled in tax fraud allegations in recent years. Often, these cases result in suspended sentences, reflecting a pattern of prosecuting tax evasion within the sport. Here are some notable examples:
Examples of Tax Fraud Cases in Spanish Football:
| Figure | Club (at time of offence) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 21-month suspended prison sentence, fine |
| Jose Mourinho | Real Madrid | One-year suspended prison sentence, nearly €2 million fine |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | Two-year suspended prison sentence, £17 million fine |
These previous cases highlight a trend of Spanish authorities taking a firm stance against tax evasion, even within the realm of high-profile football personalities. While suspended sentences have been common, the potential for a prison sentence, as in Ancelotti’s case due to the length sought, adds a layer of seriousness and uncertainty to the situation.
The upcoming trial of Carlo Ancelotti is sure to attract significant attention from the football world and beyond. The outcome will not only impact Ancelotti’s career and reputation but also serve as another example within the ongoing narrative of tax compliance and accountability within professional sports.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story. Follow our website for the latest news and analysis on the Carlo Ancelotti tax fraud trial and other football news. Share this article to keep others informed!