Tax evasion

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" I have never concealed anything" – Cristiano Ronaldo releases statement after appearing in court.

Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, appeared in a Spanish court today, to testify in his €14.7m tax evasion case. The 32-year-old was accused of taking “advantage of a company structure created in 2010 to hide income generated in Spain from his image rights from tax authorities.”, a crime deemed “voluntary and conscious breach of his fiscal obligations in Spain”. If found guilty, the former Manchester United forward could face a fine of “at least €28m” and a prison sentence of three-and-a-half years.

The Real Madrid forward who boycotted the press after the hearing released a statement, denying all wrongdoing. Read below:

“The Spanish Treasury knows in detail all my income, because we gave it to them, I have never concealed anything, nor did I intend to evade taxes. I always do my tax returns voluntarily, because I think we all have to declare and pay taxes according to our income. Those who know me, know what I ask my advisors: to have everything up to date and properly paid, because I do not want problems.

“It is time to let justice work, I believe in justice. In order to avoid unnecessary pressure or to contribute to a parallel trial, I have decided that I will not make any further statements on this subject until such a decision is made.”

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Leo Messi sentenced to 21 months in prison

 
Lionel Messi and his dad, Jorge Messi have lost an appeal to Spain’s Supreme Court over a 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud. The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court confirmed the prison sentence for the Argentinean. Messi, who admitted to avoiding the payment of taxes derived from his image rights in 2007  was sentenced to seven months in prison for each of the three crimes and fined  532,313.31

Neither Messi or his father are likely to go to Prison as under Spanish law sentences under two years can be served under probation. Nevertheless, Messi’s sentence has been reduced to 15 months in jail and the sentence imposed on the Barca striker’s father,
Meanwhile, Barcelona FC released a statement expressing its support for Messi and his family.
“Following the Supreme Court’s decision in the Leo Messi case this afternoon, Club spokesman Josep Vives said: “The Club reiterates, once again, its full support for Leo Messi, his father Jorge Messi, and his family. This afternoon, FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu contacted the player’s family to communicate this support. The family was very grateful, not only for today’s gesture, but also for the support the player and his family have received from the Club throughout this process. The Club will continue to stand with Leo Messi, his father, and his family.”

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Sports

Alexis Sanchez admits to tax fraud

Arsenal striker, Alexis Sanchez has admitted to evading payment of tax of almost €1m from his image rights via a company based in Malta between 2012 and 2013, during his spell at Barcelona. He declared in a court in the Catalan city on Monday via a video link, and confessed to two counts of tax fraud and defrauding the Treasury to a total value of 983,443 euros.
The Chilean international has reportedly returned the money and he is not likely to face a trial. His defence team and the Treasury will however come to an agreement regarding how much he will be fined for the delay in paying the taxes and possibly on the length of a prison sentence, which would be short and therefore suspended.
 

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Sports

Real Madrid issue statement on Ronaldo's tax evasion allegations

 
Real Madrid have issued a statement in the wake of tax evasion allegations levelled against Cristiano Ronaldo. A German newspaper, Der Spiegel had claimed that leaked documents show that the Portuguese may have ‘hidden 150 million euros in tax havens in Switzerland and the British Virgin Islands’.
Shortly after the accusations were made, Jorge Mendes’ agency, Gestifute, who represent Ronaldo, released a statement along with a letter from the Spanish tax authority ‘confirming that Cristiano Ronaldo is up to date on his obligations’.
Real Madrid have also reacted to the allegations, “In view of the stories published over recent days and in consideration of the certificate issued by the Spanish Tax Agency which confirms that our player Cristiano Ronaldo is up to date with all of his tax obligations, Real Madrid C. F. call for the utmost respect to be shown towards Cristiano Ronaldo, whose conduct has been absolutely exemplary throughout all of his time at our club.

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Alexis Sanchez accused of tax evasion

Arsenal star, Alexis Sanchez has been accused of tax evasion by Spanish authorities. According to El Periodico, a Catalonia-based new outlet, the Chilean failed to pay income tax on his earnings during his spell at Barcelona in £531,325 in 2012 and £357,816 in 2013.

He could face criminal proceedings for failing to declare nearly £900,000 in earnings in image rights.  

The Prosecutor, Miguel Angel Perez de Gregorio revealed that the former Barcelona player used Numidia Trading, a company based in Malta which he owns a 99% stake in, to receive payments for his image rights.

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