Brazil Coach Carlo Ancelotti Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Tax Fraud in Spain

Carlo Ancelotti, the current head coach of the Brazilian national football team, has been sentenced to one year in prison by a Spanish court for tax fraud committed in 2014, during his first spell as manager of Real Madrid.

The 65-year-old Italian coach was found guilty of failing to declare and pay taxes on income derived from image rights during that fiscal year. He was acquitted of a similar charge related to 2015. In addition to the prison sentence, Ancelotti was ordered to pay a fine of €387,000 (approximately R$2.4 million) and will be barred from receiving public funds or subsidies for three years.

Prison Sentence Unlikely to Be Served

Under Spanish law, non-violent offenders with no prior convictions typically do not serve jail time for sentences of less than two years, making it unlikely that Ancelotti will be imprisoned. The conviction, however, adds his name to a growing list of football figures such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and José Mourinho who have faced legal action in Spain for tax-related offenses.

Background of the Case

Ancelotti’s legal troubles began with an investigation by Spain’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, which accused the former Real Madrid manager of evading €1,062,079 (about R$6.6 million) in taxes between 2014 and 2015. Prosecutors initially requested a four year and nine month sentence, alleging the use of a network of shell companies to obscure income from image rights and other personal earnings.

During his court appearance in April, Ancelotti claimed he was unaware of any wrongdoing, explaining that the payment structure was arranged by Real Madrid and handled by his personal consultants.

“I was only concerned with receiving my net salary of €6 million. I never realized anything was wrong or that I was being investigated,” he said.

He further defended himself by noting that such arrangements were common practice at the time among both players and coaches.

“All the players did it, even coaches like José Mourinho. I never considered committing fraud,” Ancelotti added.

CBF Monitoring the Case

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) issued a statement acknowledging the conviction and said it is “monitoring the case closely.” However, they emphasized that the legal proceedings are being handled by Ancelotti’s personal legal team, and no impact on his role with the Brazilian national team has been confirmed at this time.

Next Steps for Ancelotti

Despite the conviction, Ancelotti is expected to remain in charge of Brazil’s national team. He is scheduled to arrive in the United States on Friday to attend the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, where his former club Real Madrid is a finalist.

Although Brazilian teams Fluminense and Palmeiras have been eliminated, Ancelotti is likely to use the trip to observe international competition and connect with staff ahead of Brazil’s upcoming fixtures.