Ancelotti fined over Real Madrid tax issues

Brazil national team manager Carlo Ancelotti has received a one-year prison sentence from a Spanish court for tax evasion, though he won't serve actual jail time. The 66-year-old Italian coach was found guilty of failing to pay €1 million (£830,000) in taxes during his first tenure as Real Madrid manager between 2013 and 2015.

While avoiding incarceration, Ancelotti must pay a substantial fine of €386,361.93 (£333,045.92). The veteran manager recently concluded his second spell with Real Madrid and has since taken charge of the Brazilian national team.

Spanish legal provisions typically exempt first-time offenders from serving prison sentences for non-violent crimes carrying terms under two years. During court proceedings earlier this year, Ancelotti maintained his innocence, stating: "I never thought about committing fraud."

The decorated coach explained that Real Madrid offered him a net salary of €6 million (£5.1m), with financial arrangements delegated to his advisors. "I considered this standard practice, as all players and the previous coach had similar arrangements," Ancelotti testified.

Notably, Ancelotti fully settled his tax debt in December 2021. His case follows similar high-profile tax issues involving football stars in Spain:

• Lionel Messi received a 21-month sentence (later converted to a €252,000 fine) in 2017

• Cristiano Ronaldo accepted an €18.8 million fine in 2019

• Jose Mourinho was fined €2.2 million for tax issues during his Real Madrid tenure (2011-12)