Spanish state prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of four years and nine months for Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti over allegations of tax fraud against the country’s tax authorities.
According to a statement issued by Madrid’s regional state prosecutor on Wednesday, Ancelotti, aged 64, is accused of committing two instances of tax fraud between 2014 and 2015 related to his income from image rights, totaling more than €1 million ($1.09 million).
Following Real Madrid’s victory over RB Leipzig with a 2-1 aggregate scoreline to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals, Ancelotti refuted the allegations.
“It’s an old story that started years ago,” he told Movistar. “The prosecutor’s office thinks that I was a resident [for tax purposes] and we think I wasn’t. I’ve paid the fine and the money is with the prosecutor’s office.
“I’m convinced that I’m innocent. Let’s see what the judge decides.”
The prosecutor’s statement said that in his income tax filings, the Italian coach “omitted the income corresponding to the exploitation of his image rights that he had transferred to other entities.”
“The Spanish Treasury calculated the loss incurred taking into account rents and income omitted and refunds obtained at €1,062,079 (€386,361 in fiscal year 2014 and €675,718 in fiscal year 2015),” the prosecutor added.
Ancelotti first joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2013 but was later dismissed in May 2015. After a hiatus, he returned to lead the team in June 2021 and has recently extended his contract until June 2026.
Over the past decade, Spanish tax authorities have scrutinised numerous players and coaches for potential tax irregularities, often related to earnings from image rights.
In 2016, Lionel Messi was found guilty of tax fraud and faced a fine to avoid a prison sentence, while Cristiano Ronaldo admitted to fraud in 2019 and agreed to pay a hefty fine of €19 million.
Similarly, Xabi Alonso was cleared of fraud charges in 2019, a verdict upheld by Spain’s Supreme Court in 2021. The court ruled that Alonso had not attempted to conceal income by transferring his image rights to an offshore entity.