Carlo Ancelotti Faces Legal Troubles Over Alleged Tax Evasion
Carlo Ancelotti, the esteemed manager of Real Madrid, is currently embroiled in a serious legal battle that could see him facing up to FOUR YEARS in prison due to allegations of tax evasion.
The accusations against the 65-year-old Italian stem from his first tenure at the helm of Real Madrid between 2014 and 2015, where he is accused of deliberately misinforming the Spanish tax authorities regarding his earnings. It is claimed that he sought to evade paying more than £833,000 in income tax.
Ancelotti is scheduled to make his court appearance on April 2, coinciding with a busy period for the club. This date falls just one day after the first leg of Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey semi-final against Real Sociedad, and only six days before their crucial Champions League quarter-final match against Arsenal.
Despite these serious allegations, Ancelotti has firmly denied any wrongdoing. He maintains that he has not violated any laws, asserting that he did not spend the requisite 183 days in Spain to be considered a tax resident during the period in question. The former AC Milan and Everton manager previously acknowledged underpaying taxes in 2014 but attributed this to errors made by his accountants.
In his defense, Ancelotti expressed confidence in his innocence, stating, “This is an old story. The Prosecutor’s Office believes I was a resident in 2015, and I believe I wasn’t. The fine has been paid, and the case is in the hands of my lawyers. I’m convinced I’m innocent. Let’s see what the judge decides.”
It is worth noting that Ancelotti is not the first high-profile figure in Spanish football to face scrutiny over tax issues. Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, along with his father, faced conviction for tax fraud, having defrauded the government of approximately £3.4 million between 2007 and 2009. In 2016, Messi was handed a 21-month prison sentence for utilizing tax havens to conceal his earnings from image rights, although he ultimately paid a fine of £223,000 instead of serving time.
As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes will be on Ancelotti and how this situation impacts his managerial duties at one of the world’s most prestigious football clubs.