What once began as rumors of a tax investigation into Cristiano Ronaldo has now gotten serious, as reports claim the Portuguese ace could be handed jail-time if found guilty. The Real Madrid superstar – alongside Jose Mourinho – is accused of using offshore companies to escape paying more taxes.
According to El Mundo, the three-time Ballon d’Or winner could have diverted €150m worth of money from image rights, with Spain’s Finance Minister saying inspections will be carried out if needed. The 31-year-old’s tax impropriety allegedly began from 2011 until 2013.
GestiFute, a company owned by super agent Jorge Mendes, denied any wrongdoing by both Cristiano and the Special One. Nonetheless, Gestha – a representative of employees of Spain’s Tax Agency and its Finance Ministry – asked for the consultancy of prosecutors, as criminal charges could be launched.
If guilty, Cristiano’s crimes would be an “aggravated fiscal fraud”, a crime worth of 2-6 years in prison. If the Euro 2016 winner admits to wrongdoing and pays back the amount requested, he could instead be slapped with an 18-month sentence which will most probably be suspended.
Gestha wrote: “Gestha also consider that the director of Spain’s Tax Agency should explain in the Spanish Parliament under what criteria he decides to refer cases of alleged tax fraud by sportspeople to prosecutors, as well as what the criminal consequences are of only ordering an investigation into three years of tax returns and not others and what reasons exist for that.
“In the case of Cristiano Ronaldo, the Tax Agency has ordered an inspection for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013.
These allegations are similar to the ones Lionel Messi faced. The Argentine was accused of tax evasion and was found guilty – alongside his father.
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