28 July, 2018
Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo will pay a €3.2 million fine for tax fraud after settling a tax evasion case with Spanish tax authorities.
While the representatives of the five-time Ballon d'Or victor reiterated his innocence of the allegations, they have now accepted the hefty fine and the two-year prison sentence.
Ronaldo had already reached a tentative deal with the state prosecutor's office, but Spain's tax authorities had yet to sign off on the agreement.
Prosecutors in Madrid said the deal with tax authorities and Cristiano Ronaldo's advisors also includes a two-year jail sentence which he won't serve. Sentences of up to two years are generally not implemented in Spain for first-time offenders in non-violent crimes.
Procecutors allege the five-time Ballon d'Or victor hid income generated in Spain from his image rights from tax authorities.
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The former Real Madrid man pleaded guilty to tax evasion of €5.7m between 2011 and 2014 last month, following accusations from a Spanish state prosecutor past year.
The Spanish taxman also found he did not declare 28.4 million euros in image rights agreed for 2015-20, leaving 14.7 million owing.
The 33-year-old's situation is similar to Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi's two years ago when he was given a 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud.
The football star will be required to pay the £2.8 million (€3.2 million) fine plus the £5 million (€5.7 million) owed in taxes and £888,000 (€1 million) in accrued interest.
