- Gestha, Spain's tax workers’ union, want prosecutors to handle Cristiano Ronaldo's tax fraud case
- Ronaldo reportedly diverted as much as €150m from image rights contracts to a Caribbean tax haven
Spain's tax workers’ union Gestha wants the country’s Inland Revenue bosses to pass any files they have on Cristiano Ronaldo to prosecutors so he could be charged in the case of a tax fraud.
The body insisted that state prosecutors be given the chance to decide whether to launch legal proceedings against the Real Madrid star over alleged tax dodging.
The is a new wave of tax fraud involving footballers in Spain with Lionel Messi and Neymar of Barcelona also involved with tax frauds.
The Sunday Times and Spanish daily El Mundo have accused Ronaldo of financial impropriety over the weekend with Arsenal star Mesut Ozil and Jose Mourinho also implicated.
The Times claims Ronaldo's advisers misled the tax authorities in Britain and Spain during inquiries into more than £10million in earnings hidden through a Caribbean tax haven.
Mourinho has denied any wrongdoing and Ronaldo’s Portuguese agents GestiFute defended the Portuguese boss and the former Manchester United winger in a statements.
But Gestha are pushing for prosecutors to be consulted over the Ronaldo allegations as the Real Madrid star could face prison sentense if proven that he committed tax fraud through the use of offshore accounts and companies.
They put out a strongly-worded press release speculating about a lengthy prison sentence for one of the world’s best players if he was found to have committed tax crimes.
Respected Spanish daily El Mundo has claimed Ronaldo may have diverted up to as much as 150 million euros from image rights contracts to a Caribbean tax haven.
Recall that former Barcelona attacker, Samuel Eto'o has been accused of failing to reveal his full income to the authorities, and could spend 10 years behind bars.
A four-count-charge has been leveled against the Cameroonian which could amount to 10 and a half years behind bars and a fine of €14m.
Also Barca defender Javier Masherano handed a one-year prison sentence for not properly paying taxes in Spain but is not expected to serve any time in jail.
Javier Mascherano
Mascherano was also fined nearly €800,000 (£611,000) on Thursday and has been prevented from receiving any tax benefits for a year. The prison sentence is expected to be replaced by another fine or dismissed entirely.
Barcelona players have been famous with such allegations. There are calls by Spanish authorities for Neymar to be sent to prison for two years.
The 24-year-old is fingered for his part in a corruption case over his transfer from Brazilian club Santos in 2013.
Recall that Lionel Messi and his father Jorge were sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud earlier in 2016.
Messi and his father Jorge in court when charged with tax fraud
The duo were found to have evaded tax on Lionel’s image rights, owing more than €4m in back payments.
0 comments:
Post a Comment