Ex-Real Madrid Coach Ancelotti Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Tax Fraud

By Emmanuel Kwada

A Spanish court has sentenced Carlo Ancelotti, former Real Madrid manager and current Brazil national team coach, to a one-year prison term for tax fraud committed in 2014.

The ruling, issued by the Audiencia Provincial de Madrid, also imposes a €386,361 ($452,821) fine on the 66-year-old Italian. Ancelotti was found guilty of failing to declare income from image rights during his first stint at Real Madrid (2013-2015), defrauding the Spanish treasury of approximately €1 million.

Prosecutors alleged Ancelotti used shell companies, including one in the Virgin Islands, to hide earnings from image rights, declaring only his Real Madrid salary.

I never thought about committing fraud

Ancelotti maintained his innocence, stating he relied on the club’s financial team and advisors, believing the arrangement was standard practice. “I never thought about committing fraud,” he testified, noting he repaid the owed amount by 2021, a factor that mitigated his sentence.

Under Spanish law, sentences under two years for non-violent, first-time offenders are typically suspended, meaning Ancelotti is unlikely to serve jail time. He was acquitted of similar charges for 2015, as the court could not prove he resided in Spain long enough to incur tax liabilities.

Ancelotti joins other football figures, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, investigated by Spanish authorities for tax irregularities. He continues to lead Brazil’s national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.