Xabi Alonso faces five-year jail term for tax fraud | Sportsmonks
Sportsmonks

Xabi Alonso faces five-year jail term for tax fraud

Former Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Liverpool midfield ace Xabi Alonso has found himself in trouble with tax authorities in Spain. The 37-year-old is facing charges of tax fraud and could be jailed for 5 years after refusing to settle the matter outside court. Spanish authorities allege the Spain midfielder did not declare earnings from his image rights and has defrauded the state of 3 million dollars.

Alonso has refused to accept the charges and is willing to fight the matter out in court. Alonso has maintained his stance on being innocent and refused any agreement with the Spanish government. The case will be heard on the 22nd of January. Tax authorities are demanding that the 2010 World Cup winner pay a multi-million dollar fine while also repaying the state what he owned them. The claim he has evaded taxes while playing for Real Madrid from 2009 to 2014.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have faced tax evasion charges in Spain. Messi and his father were found guilty, however, his 21-month prison sentence was replaced with a 255,500 euros fine along with the 2 million and 1.5 million euros he defrauded the state. Ronaldo, on the other hand, has denied the allegations. Javier Mascherano and Jose Mourinho too were accused of the same crime. While Mourinho has refused to accept the charges, Mascherano got his one year sentence suspended after admitting to the crime.

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