Real Madrid Manager Denies Fraud Allegations in Spanish Court
Carlo Ancelotti, the current manager of Real Madrid, recently appeared in court in Madrid, Spain, to testify regarding accusations of tax evasion. The renowned Italian football coach has been accused of failing to pay 1 million euros (£830,000) in taxes on his salary during his first tenure as Real Madrid’s head coach from 2013 to 2015.
Ancelotti, who returned to Real Madrid as manager in 2021, faces potential penalties including a prison sentence of four years and nine months, along with a fine of 3.2 million euros (£2.7 million). The charges stem from the alleged omission of income related to image rights from his tax returns, despite declaring his salary from the club.
During his testimony at the Provincial Court of Madrid, Ancelotti firmly stated, “For me, everything was in order.” The Italian coach explained that his contract with Real Madrid offered him a net salary of 6 million euros (£5.1 million), and he relied on financial advisors to manage the tax details. He further emphasized that, at the time, many players and coaches followed a similar structure for their contracts.
Ancelotti noted that image rights for coaches were not as significant as for players, who typically benefit from selling shirts and other merchandise. The former Chelsea and Everton manager maintained that he believed everything related to his salary and tax payments was handled appropriately.
This case is part of a wider trend, with several high-profile football figures in Spain facing tax-related legal issues in recent years. Notably, Barcelona star Lionel Messi was fined 252,000 euros in 2017 after a 21-month prison sentence was initially handed to him. In 2019, former Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo settled with an 18.8 million euro fine for similar charges. Additionally, José Mourinho, who managed Real Madrid during the 2011-12 season, was fined 2.2 million euros related to tax charges.
As the trial continues, the outcome will be closely watched, given the high-profile nature of the case and its potential impact on the football world.
