Former Real Madrid manager and current Brazil national team coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has been sentenced to one year in prison by a Madrid court for tax fraud committed in 2014. However, due to Spanish legal provisions, Ancelotti will not serve any jail time, as the sentence is likely to be suspended for first-time non-violent offenders serving under two years.
According to Spanish news agency EFE, the 30th section of Madrid’s Provincial Court found Ancelotti guilty of defrauding tax authorities of €386,361.93 (about $452,000) during the 2014 fiscal year. He was also ordered to pay that amount as a civil penalty and barred from receiving public subsidies or tax benefits in Spain for the next three years.
Interestingly, the court acquitted him of a second count of tax fraud related to 2015, despite prosecutors initially claiming he owed a total of €1.06 million for both years.
During the trial in April 2025, Ancelotti maintained his innocence, telling the court he had no intention to deceive Spanish authorities. He said he relied on guidance from Real Madrid and his financial advisors at the time. His legal team also pointed out that he paid the full amount owed in December 2021 and cited the long delay in legal proceedings as a mitigating factor.
While the court acknowledged his repayment and cooperation, it still held him accountable for the 2014 violation. The judge emphasized the state’s right to reclaim civil damages totaling the same amount of the fraud.
This ruling adds to a long list of high-profile tax cases involving football figures in Spain, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jose Mourinho, all of whom have faced similar legal scrutiny over undeclared income, especially linked to image rights.
Though Ancelotti walks away without jail time, the conviction puts a blemish on his otherwise sterling managerial legacy. He currently serves as head coach of the Brazilian national team, having taken the role after his second stint with Real Madrid.
