Baltasar accused of embezzlement, others; prosecution seeks 18-year jail term
Ancelotti jailed one year for tax fraud
Ancelotti jailed one year for tax fraud
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 2 mins read
A Spanish court has sentenced Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti to one year in prison for tax fraud committed during his tenure as Real Madrid manager in 2014.
The court ruling, delivered on Wednesday in Madrid, also fined Ancelotti 386,000 euros (approximately $452,187). Spanish prosecutors accused him of defrauding the state of 1 million euros over the years 2014 and 2015 by concealing earnings from image rights through the use of offshore shell companies.
One such company, registered in the Virgin Islands, was cited by prosecutors as lacking “any real (economic) activity,” and formed part of what they described as a deliberate scheme to obscure Ancelotti’s income. In March 2024, prosecutors formally charged the coach, seeking a sentence of up to four years and nine months on two counts of tax fraud.
Although the court issued a one-year prison sentence, Ancelotti is unlikely to serve time due to Spanish laws that allow judges to suspend sentences under two years for first-time offenders.
A staff member close to Ancelotti, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said his legal team welcomed the court’s final decision, particularly the ruling that Ancelotti was not formally a Spanish resident in 2015.
Brazil’s football federation has not yet commented on the case.
Ancelotti is the latest football figure to be caught up in Spain’s tax crackdown, joining the ranks of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and José Mourinho—none of whom served actual jail time despite similar convictions.
One of the most decorated managers in football history, Ancelotti, who turned 66 last month, is the only coach to win the UEFA Champions League five times—three with Real Madrid and two with AC Milan. He is also the only manager to have secured domestic league titles in Spain, Italy, England, Germany, and France.
After completing his second spell with Real Madrid, Ancelotti accepted the role of head coach for the Brazilian national team.
