Carlo Ancelotti gets jail sentence for tax fraud

Carlo Ancelotti, former Real Madrid manager and current Brazil national team coach, has been handed a one-year prison sentence by a Spanish court for tax fraud related to his image rights income in 2014.

According to the court ruling issued on Wednesday, Ancelotti failed to declare revenues earned during his first stint at Real Madrid, where he managed the club between 2013 and 2015.

However, he was cleared of a similar charge for 2015, as the court could not confirm he had resided in Spain long enough that year to be liable for taxation. He was sacked by Real Madrid in May 2015 and subsequently moved to London.

Under Spanish law, non-violent offenders with no prior criminal record typically do not serve jail time if the sentence is under two years. Ancelotti, 66, is therefore unlikely to spend time behind bars.

The Italian coach joins a growing list of football figures, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Costa, who have faced investigations or convictions for tax evasion in Spain.

While most chose to settle with large fines, others, like Xabi Alonso, fought the charges in court and were acquitted.

Ancelotti, a highly decorated manager with spells at AC Milan, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and recently Real Madrid (2021/2025), was recently appointed head coach of Brazil’s national team.