Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso face Madrid tax trials

Former Real Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso will both face trial in the Spanish capital on Tuesday, accused of fiscal fraud.

Ronaldo left Madrid to join Italian champions Juventus this summer in a deal worth a reported €100m, while Alonso has retired from playing following a stint with Bayern Munich, and is currently coaching in Madrid’s youth teams.

However, both men will face hugely differing outcomes with Ronaldo having already agreed his punishment, but Alonso has not found an agreement and prosecutors are pushing for a five-year jail term.

According to reports in Spain, between 2011 and 2014 Ronaldo committed four years’ worth of tax fraud, comprising of four individual crimes of which the total amount reached €14,768,897.

The Juventus star Ronaldo has been found guilty of defrauding the Spanish state and has agreed to pay €18.8m and accept a two-year suspended jail term.

The imposition of a two-year prison term means he will not serve any time in jail, due to his being a first offence and anything under two years and one day in Spain means no custodial sentence is applied.

Nonetheless, the Treasury wants to maintain the two-year sentence to prevent any re-offending, with any further wrongdoings having to be served as it would be a second offence.

Alonso however has not accepted any wrongdoing and has alleged crimes relating to a period between 2010 and 2012.

El Pais report the ex-Liverpool star could be hit with a five-year prison sentence and a €4m fine over three counts of fiscal fraud.

Alonso stands accused of working with accountant Ivan Zaldua Azcuenaga and Kardazli Commercial Services company director Ignasi Maestre Casanova to fraudulently sell his image rights “with the intention of obtaining an illicit fiscal benefit”.

Alonso denied any wrongdoing last March: “I trust that this will end in good port even though it is going to be long, but I am convinced that I have always done everything well.”

Tags Cristiano Ronaldo
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