Spanish prosecutors are seeking legal action against Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, urging for a prison sentence of four years and nine months, alleging his failure to disclose earnings to the tax authorities.
The allegations, totaling 1 million euros, revolve around Ancelotti’s purported omission of income from image rights in 2014 and 2015, according to statements released by prosecutors on Wednesday. The Madrid state prosecutor’s office has accused the 64-year-old Italian of orchestrating a complex network of shell companies to conceal his additional income.
Amid mounting legal scrutiny, Ancelotti faces accusations of establishing a convoluted financial structure aimed at obscuring his earnings, thereby allegedly depriving Spain’s treasury of due taxes.
Although a Spanish court previously ordered Ancelotti to stand trial over the matter, a definitive date for the proceedings remains pending. Ancelotti’s coaching tenure at Real Madrid spans two periods, from 2013 to 2015 and his return in 2021, punctuated by significant successes on the field.
Widely regarded as one of football’s most accomplished coaches, Ancelotti boasts a distinguished career highlighted by unprecedented achievements. Notably, he clinched the prestigious Champions League trophy four times, twice with Real Madrid and twice with AC Milan, underscoring his unparalleled expertise on the European stage.
Furthermore, Ancelotti holds the distinction of securing domestic league titles in major footballing nations, including England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France.
Ancelotti’s legal entanglement echoes similar cases involving high-profile figures in football, reflecting the pervasive nature of tax-related controversies within the sport.
Former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho previously faced legal repercussions, receiving a one-year suspended sentence following a guilty plea for tax fraud in 2019.
Likewise, iconic footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have confronted legal challenges over tax evasion allegations in Spain, underscoring the complex intersection of sports, finance, and legal accountability.
