Former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence by a Spanish court for failing to declare earnings from his image rights in 2014. The ruling, issued by the Provincial Court of Madrid, also includes a financial penalty of €386,361.93 (approximately £333,000).
Now 66 years old, Ancelotti recently stepped down from his role at Real Madrid and has since taken over as head coach of Brazil’s national team. While he was found guilty of the 2014 tax offense, he was acquitted of a separate charge relating to alleged personal income tax fraud in 2015.
Despite the conviction, Ancelotti will not serve time behind bars. Under Spanish law, first-time offenders who receive sentences of two years or less for non-violent crimes are typically granted suspended sentences, avoiding actual jail time.
Prosecutors initially pushed for a much harsher penalty—seeking a sentence of four years and nine months and a fine of €3.2 million (around £2.7 million). During a court appearance in April, Ancelotti stated that he had relied on the advice of his British financial adviser and believed everything had been handled appropriately. "I never thought a fraud could have been committed," he said. "But, given that I’m here, I guess things weren’t done that right."
Ancelotti now joins a growing list of high-profile football figures convicted of tax-related offenses in Spain. Lionel Messi and his father were sentenced in 2016 for evading €4.1 million in taxes. Cristiano Ronaldo accepted a fine of €18.8 million in 2019, alongside a suspended sentence. José Mourinho and Diego Costa have also faced similar convictions during or following their time in Spanish football.
Ancelotti’s conviction highlights the continued scrutiny of image rights deals and tax compliance in Spanish football, especially involving international stars and managers.
