Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti Sentenced to One Year for Tax Fraud in Spain

Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti has been handed a one-year prison sentence by a Spanish court over tax fraud linked to image rights earnings during his time as Real Madrid manager in 2014.

The 66-year-old Italian was also fined €386,361. However, he will not serve any jail time, as Spanish law allows first-time offenders to avoid prison for non-violent sentences under two years.

The Madrid court delivered the ruling on Wednesday, finding Ancelotti guilty of failing to declare income from image rights during his first spell at Real Madrid between 2013 and 2015.

During the proceedings, Ancelotti reportedly told the court it was never his intention to evade taxes and that he “simply did as he was told by the club.”

He was cleared of similar allegations for the year 2015 after the court determined he had not resided in Spain long enough that year to incur tax obligations. Ancelotti left Spain for London following his dismissal from Real Madrid in May 2015.