Ancelotti facing a prison sentence close to five years for tax evasion in Spain – report | OneFootball

The ongoing legal troubles surrounding Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti have taken a dramatic turn, as the Madrid Provincial Court has scheduled his trial for next Wednesday, April 2.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the prosecution is seeking a severe penalty of four years and nine months in prison, accusing Ancelotti of defrauding the Treasury of over €1 million.

The allegations stem from fiscal irregularities reported in the years 2014 and 2015, during Ancelotti’s initial tenure at Real Madrid.

Specifically, the Prosecutor’s Office claims he defrauded the public treasury of €386,361 in 2014 and €675,718 in 2015, bringing the total amount to €1,062,079.

The situation escalated when the Tax Agency seized Ancelotti’s tax debt, which now stands at €1,217,958.24—an amount inflated by additional surcharges and interest.

What makes this case particularly damaging for Ancelotti is the accusation that he concealed his income related to the exploitation of image rights.

He has already appeared before the court

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the Italian coach allegedly transferred these rights to other entities in what they have labelled a “fictitious move.”

Essentially, the argument is that Ancelotti tried to shield his earnings from taxation through strategic manoeuvring of his image rights, an issue that has tripped up several high-profile figures in football over the years.

Carlo Ancelotti is in legal trouble. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

This is not the first time Ancelotti has been called to answer for these allegations. He previously appeared before the 35th investigating court in Madrid in 2021, where he admitted to not properly paying taxes for the fiscal year 2014.

However, he also insisted that he had been poorly advised by his collaborators during that period.

What’s the situation now?

Currently, the Ministry’s representative is charging Ancelotti with two separate offences against the Public Treasury and they are seeking fines totalling €3,186,237.

For Real Madrid, this news comes at a particularly delicate time. Ancelotti has been pivotal in their pursuit of titles this season, but the looming legal battle could potentially affect his focus and performance.

Furthermore, if the prosecution’s demands are met, the implications for his career could be devastating.