Brazilian national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has been sentenced to one year in prison and fined $452,000 by a court in Madrid for failing to pay taxes on his image rights income in 2014, as reported by ESPN. Ancelotti, who previously managed Real Madrid from 2013 to 2015, was penalized after it was determined that he had only reported his salary from the club while neglecting to include his image earnings on his Spanish tax returns.
While the sentence pertains solely to 2014, the court noted there was insufficient evidence to prove that he had spent a significant amount of time in Spain, suggesting he had "tax liabilities." Ancelotti left Spain for London shortly after his dismissal from Real Madrid in 2015.
Although the 66-year-old coach received a year-long sentence, it is unlikely he will actually serve time, given Spanish law generally does not impose prison sentences for non-violent offenses under two years if the defendant has no prior convictions. Originally, prosecutors had sought a nearly five-year sentence and a fine exceeding $3 million, according to the Associated Press.
After his first tenure with Real Madrid, Ancelotti managed Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton before returning to the club in 2021.
Ancelotti is not the only prominent football figure facing scrutiny regarding tax issues in Spain; Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa have also been involved in similar legal matters, though they settled out of court. The Brazilian Football Federation is currently monitoring Ancelotti’s case, as reported by ESPN. A spokesperson for Ancelotti, Carlos Sanchez, stated that the coach would refrain from commenting on the matter for the moment.
Fan Take: This news raises significant concerns for soccer fans, as it highlights the ongoing scrutiny of high-profile figures in the sport regarding financial conduct. The repercussions could impact Ancelotti’s coaching effectiveness and the broader perception of the sport’s integrity.
