Ancelotti Sentenced for Tax Evasion but Avoids Jail Time
Carlo Ancelotti, current manager of the Brazil national team, has been handed a one-year prison sentence by a Spanish court after being found guilty of tax evasion. However, the 66-year-old will not serve any jail time due to Spain’s legal policy on non-violent offenses.
The case stems from Ancelotti’s first spell managing Real Madrid between 2013 and 2015, during which he failed to declare approximately 1 million euros (£830,000) in income related to his salary.
Fined Instead of Imprisoned
While the court sentenced Ancelotti to 12 months, under Spanish law, non-violent first-time offenders who receive sentences of under two years are typically not required to serve prison time. Instead, Ancelotti has been ordered to pay a fine of 386,361.93 euros (£333,045.92).
He previously repaid the full tax debt in December 2021.
Ancelotti Denies Intentional Wrongdoing
Speaking in court earlier this year, Ancelotti claimed he never intended to commit fraud, stating he had entrusted the financial structuring of his contract to advisers.
“I never thought about committing fraud,” Ancelotti told the court. “I was offered a net salary by Real Madrid and thought it was normal. At the time, everyone around me—players, the previous coach—was doing the same.”
Ancelotti left Real Madrid at the end of the 2024–25 season after his second tenure at the club and formally took charge of the Brazilian national team.
A Pattern Among Football Figures
Ancelotti joins a growing list of high-profile football names entangled in Spanish tax cases:
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Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month sentence in 2017, later reduced to a fine of 252,000 euros.
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Cristiano Ronaldo accepted an 18.8 million euro settlement in 2019 for similar offenses.
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Jose Mourinho, also a former Real Madrid manager, paid 2.2 million euros to settle tax charges from his 2011–2012 spell in Spain.
These cases highlight a long-standing scrutiny of footballers and managers regarding image rights and offshore earnings, particularly during their time in La Liga.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/czeyjw0nx27o
