MADRID (THE GUARDIAN) - Portugal and Juventus footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted to committing tax fraud while playing for Real Madrid and agreed to pay an €18.8 million (S$29 million) fine after striking a deal with prosecutors and tax authorities in return for a 23-month suspended prison sentence.
Ronaldo, 33, had been accused of defrauding the authorities of €14.8 million in unpaid taxes between 2011 and 2014.
In 2017, Madrid's regional state prosecutor alleged that the player had used what it deemed to be a shell company in the Virgin Islands to "create a screen in order to hide his total income from Spain's tax office".
It said Ronaldo "intentionally" did not declare income of €28.4 million related to image rights, and declared €11.5m of earnings from 2011 to 2014 when his real income was almost €43 million.
The prosecutor also alleged that the forward falsely reported income as coming from real estate, which it said had greatly reduced his tax rate.
Ronaldo arrived in court in Madrid on Tuesday morning (Jan 22), wearing sunglasses and a black blazer and accompanied by his partner, Georgina Rodriguez.
His request to be allowed to enter the provincial court through an underground car park was denied.
"I am very well," the five-time Ballon d'Or winner told reporters outside the court after the brief hearing.
The hearing came six months after Ronaldo agreed a deal that would see him spared jail if he paid fines totalling almost €19 million.
In Spain, a judge can suspend sentences for two years or less for first-time offenders.
Meanwhile, the trial of Ronaldo's former Real Madrid teammate Xabi Alonso, also in court on Tuesday over accusations of tax fraud, was suspended, a court magistrate said.
Prosecutors were seeking a five-year jail sentence and a fine of €4 million for the Spaniard, who retired as a player in 2017, accusing him of defrauding the Spanish state of about €2 million between 2010 and 2012.
Alonso said he was confident he had not committed a crime and would have to wait while the magistrates evaluated his case.
"I'd be worried if I thought I had something to hide or something I didn't do right but, as that isn't the case, I am carrying on," Alonso told reporters.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, who will join the club on loan from Juventus until the end of the season, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. Higuain joins Chelsea after his year-long loan spell with AC Milan was cut to less than six months. The deal
Higuain completes Chelsea loan deal from Juventus - Reuters
English refs can't execute VAR: Sarri, Football News & Top
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock revealed his pride despite losing 2-1 at Arsenal on Tuesday as the Welsh side returned to action for the first time since a plane carrying the club's record signing
Warnock hails Cardiff's heart as Bluebirds win again for Sala
Football: Liverpool stun Barcelona 4-0 to reach Champions
Blues expect hard time at Fulham after Ranieri exit LONDON • Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has backed the sacked Claudio Ranieri to come back stronger, at the same time warning his players to expect a strong reaction today from Fulham following the departure of his fellow Italian.
Latest FULHAM | The Straits Times
By Eric Knecht. DOHA (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that a majority of national soccer federations were in favor of expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams.
Football: Infantino says he has wide support for 48-team
The 2019-20 season is Tottenham Hotspur's 28th season in the Premier League and 42nd successive season in the top division of the English football league system.Along with the Premier League, the club competes in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup.
Football: Tottenham Hotspur to play in Singapore in July pre
Football: Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile pressure on Silva WATFORD, England (REUTERS) - Substitute Andre Gray scored a second-half winner as Watford beat Marco Silva's Everton 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday (Feb 9) to heap the pressure on their former manager.
Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile pressure on Silva
Stags coach Kadir urges better focus after last-gasp goals
Football: Gordon Banks' illustrious career extended beyond iconic save Gordon Banks, the England football team's goalkeeper when they won the 1966 World Cup, died aged 81. His former club Stoke announced this on Tuesday (Feb 12) and Banks' family said he died peacefully in his sleep overnight.
Football: England bids farewell to World Cup-winning 'keeper
VIDEO Newcastle United 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Premier League) Highlights. February 23, 2019. Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop. Highlights1.
More than just Ronaldo! Portugal could be ready to dominate after claiming first-ever Nations League And just by being there, Ronaldo puts fear in the heart of the opposition. Andre Silva
Ronaldo and Silva shine as Portugal dominate best Nations
Ole aiming for European glory LONDON • Manchester United can ride their resurgence to mount a realistic challenge for the Champions League, said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is edging closer to becoming the club's permanent manager.
Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opens up on why his job
0 comments:
Post a Comment