Real Madrid Legend Alonso Faces 5-yr Jail Term for Tax Fraud

Real Madrid Legend Alonso Faces 5-yr Jail Term for Tax Fraud

Spanish prosecutors have called for former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso to be sentenced to five years in prison after allegations of tax fraud.

In the latest tax fraud scandal to hit a football star, the Madrid prosecution office announced on Wednesday it was seeking the sentence after the player allegedly defrauded the Spanish taxman of two million euros between 2010 and 2012.

According to prosecutors, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid star used a company based on the Portuguese island of Madeira to avoid declaring income earned from image rights.

In addition to the five-year imprisonment, the prosecutors have slammed a fine of four million euros against Alonso, his tax advisor Ivan Zaldua and the manager of the Portuguese company, Ignasi Maestre.

Furthermore, prosecutors are demanding the return of the sum denied to the Spanish tax office, in addition to any interest gained over the period.

The Madrid court in charge of the investigation reopened the case at the end of 2017 after the judges on appeal found the facts alleged against Alonso were “sufficiently substantiated”.

Alonso, 36, who called time on his career last year after a spell in Germany with Bayern Munich, joins a long list of high-profile footballer to have run into trouble with the Spanish taxman.

Some have admitted fraud in exchange for a sentence to avoid jail, like Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez, former Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano and Real Madrid defender Marcelo.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was sentenced to a fine of €2.1 million for tax evasion and a sentence of 21 months in prison, subsequently issued as a fine which he cleared.

Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is presently being tried for alleged fraud of €14.7 million.