Tax Fraud: Former Real Madrid Coach, Carlo Ancelotti Gets Year’s Jail Sentence

A Spanish court has sentenced former Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, to one year in prison for tax fraud relating to undeclared income during his first spell with the Spanish club in 2014.

However, the 66-year-old Italian tactician will not serve time behind bars, as the sentence falls under the threshold that requires no incarceration under Spanish law.

Naija News reports that the court ruling, delivered on Wednesday, found that Ancelotti used a network of shell companies to conceal income derived from image rights, a common financial arrangement among elite football professionals.

Prosecutors had alleged that Ancelotti failed to declare over €1 million in earnings between 2014 and 2015.

They initially sought a four-year and nine-month prison sentence, accusing the veteran manager of orchestrating a deliberate scheme to evade tax payments while managing Real Madrid.

“The court has convicted Ancelotti for an offence against the treasury… to the punishment of one year in prison,” the ruling stated.

The judge also ordered the coach to pay a fine of €386,361 (approximately $452,821).

At his trial in April, Ancelotti denied any deliberate wrongdoing. He claimed he was unaware that the image rights structure implemented by his advisers would lead to underpayment of taxes.

“I never intended to defraud the treasury,” the Brazil national team coach said in court, adding that he placed his trust in financial experts to handle the agreements.

The court, however, did clear him of charges related to the 2015 tax year, providing a partial reprieve for the highly decorated football figure.

Ancelotti Will Not Serve Jail Time Due To Spanish Law

Naija News understands that, despite the court verdict, Ancelotti, who no longer resides in Spain, will not be confined to the prison walls.

The Spanish legal provisions state that first-time offenders handed prison terms of up to two years for non-violent crimes are spared incarceration.

It is worth noting that Ancelotti, widely regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time, has headed big teams such as Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, and helped them to win several league titles, including UEFA Champions League trophies.

Now head coach of the Brazilian national team, the ruling is unlikely to affect his current role, though it marks a blemish on an otherwise stellar managerial career.