Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti will need to be present at his court hearing, it has been claimed, with the Italian at risk of a prison sentence over alleged tax fraud
Carlo Ancelotti risks a jail term of more than four years over alleged tax fraud, a court in Spain has said. The Real Madrid manager is set to face a court hearing next Wednesday.
Ancelotti is currently in his second spell as Madrid boss, having returned in 2021. However, the allegations are understood to relate to a time period during his first stint at the Bernabeu. According to AFP, citing a statement from a court in the Spanish capital, Ancelotti is accused of having failed to declare earnings related to image rights in 2014 and 2015. He is alleged to have cost the Spanish treasury more than €1million (around £837,000).
The 65-year-old is accused of using a “confusing” and “complex” series of shell companies to hide earnings. The prosecution alleges that he declared his personal remuneration from Real Madrid, but not other earnings.
Ancelotti is required to be present for next week’s hearing, according to reports. AFP indicates the trial itself is not expected to last more than two days, with prosecution seeking a sentence of four years and nine months.
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The Italian was ordered to stand trial in 2023, though at the time no date was set. Ancelotti was asked about the matter in 2024, during a season which ended with Real Madrid winning the Champions League.
“It is a old story, it does not affect me and I hope it is resolved quickly,” he told reporters. “I am calm and the only problem I have is getting the team to play better.”
Ancelotti won the Champions League in his first Real Madrid spell, thanks to an extra-time victory over Atletico Madrid. He he has added two more wins since returning, beating Liverpool in the 2022 final and overcoming Borussia Dortmund last June.
The Spanish giants remain in contention to retain the trophy this season. They are set to take on Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Manchester City in the knockout round play-offs and squeezing past Atleti on penalties.
Real Madrid are due to return to La Liga action this weekend against Leganes. They sit three points behind league leaders Barcelona, who won their game in hand against Osasuna on Thursday night.
“I have lots to think about and I’m heavily focused on this stretch of the season,” Ancelotti told reporters ahead of Saturday’s game. “It’s crucial for us because we’re so close.
“My job is to try and focus the players as much as possible in order to get the best possible performance from them. We have something great in front of us and we don’t want to miss out on that.”
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