Cristiano Ronaldo Tax Evasion Case: Spanish Court Awards 23-Month Prison Sentence to Former Real Madrid Star, Fined USD 21 Million
The Portuguese star, who was a stalwart in Real Madrid's attacking formation between 2009-14, moved to the Serie A club Juventus over the summer.
Madrid, January 22: A regional Spanish court on Tuesday sentenced former Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to 23 months in prison and ordered him to pay a 18.8 million euro ($21.44 million) fine for tax evasion, although the world-renowned football player will not spend time behind bars as prison sentences of less than two years are normally not served in Spain. Ronaldo's sentencing came after he reached a deal with the prosecution in which he admitted to having committed four tax crimes between 2011-14 and for which he was ordered to appear in person at the regional Madrid court to hear his sentencing, reports Efe news.
Prosecutors estimated that Ronaldo had defrauded some 14.7 million euros, although they reduced the figure to 5.7 million euros after the Portuguese star took the plea deal. After his request to enter the Madrid court via the garage in order to avoid the media spotlight was refused by a judge, the soccer star arrived with his partner before a crowd of journalists and excited fans. Cristiano Ronaldo Rape Case: Star Footballer Admits Kathryn Mayorga Said No to Him and Apologised After They Had Sex?
Ronaldo's former colleague and ex-Spain international Xabi Alonso also appeared at the Madrid court, where prosecutors have asked for a sentence of five years' imprisonment and a 4 million-euro fine on three counts of tax evasion allegedly committed between 2010-12. Unlike Ronaldo, the Basque player has maintained his innocence. Cristiano Ronaldo Beats Lionel Messi; Wins Best Player of the Year at the 2019 Globe Soccer Awards for the Third Time! (See Pics and Video).
The Portuguese star, who was a stalwart in Real Madrid's attacking formation between 2009-14, moved to the Serie A club Juventus over the summer. Between interests and fines, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will have to hand over almost 19 million euros to the public purse. Ronaldo and Alonso join other footballers such as Luka Modric, Marcelo, Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano in accepting a plea deal with Spanish authorities for crimes against the public treasury.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 22, 2019 08:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).