Ronaldo Faces Two-Year Prison Sentence For Tax Fraud

By Joshua Walters

Cristiano Ronaldo faces a two-year jail term as a court in Madrid is set to rule on his alleged tax evasion offence on January 7, 2019.

The Portuguese striker, who joined Juventus this season after a nine-year stay at Real Madrid, is being tried for allegedly refusing to pay taxes accrued on his image rights whiles in Spain.

Spanish tax authorities have accused him of evading tax to the tune of €14.7m, and the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could serve up to two years in jail or pay a fine of about €18.9m if found guilty of the offense.

The Mirror reports that the court is done with gathering evidence from both the prosecution and the defendant, and has chosen January 7, next year, as the day of judgment.

Reports in Spain state that Ronaldo has requested to join in the proceedings via video link rather than fly to Spain, but the court is yet to decide on it.