Ronaldo faces jail sentence, fine in tax evasion case

Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo has been slapped with a face of 3.2 million euros ($3.7 million) and sentenced to 24 months in prison, the prosecutor said on Firday.The 33-year-old is accused of evading 5.7 million euros in taxes. He, however, has denied the allegations. Ronaldo is unlikely to go to prison as Spanish law states a sentence of under two years for a first offence can be served on probation.

The football star will be required to pay the 3.2-million-euro fine plus the 5.7 million euros in back taxes, 1 million euros in accrued interest and 250 euros-per-day for the 48 months covering the prison sentence. This amount is likely to be only part of the striker’s fines over the case, which are expected to rise to around 19 million euros in total.

It is understood that Ronaldo was keen to reach a settlement with tax bosses as he gets his finances in order following his shock £99 million move to Juventus earlier this month.

The 33-year-old had always fought the charges but decided to reach an agreement as he begins his new life in Italy.

He has become the latest football star to be sentenced in a crackdown on tax evasion by Spanish authorities against high-profile footballers. Barcelona legend Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month prison sentence in 2017 on similar tax fraud charges.