The Spanish tax authorities have demanded that Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo pay them €28 million (US$33 million), double what he offered to settle his tax fraud case.
The 33-year-old was accused by Spanish prosecutors last June of defrauding the country's tax authorities of €14.8 million (US$17.4 million) in image rights income, according to AS.
Instead he offered €14 million (US$16.4 million), plus an admission of guilt, in exchange for a reduced prison sentence of two years. As he has no previous convictions in Spain, under Spanish criminal law he would not have served any time in jail.
But the Spanish tax authorities have rejected the offer, demanding that the football player pay the total amount of tax defrauded, plus interest, fines and costs. Ronaldo has the option to either pay the €28 million (US$33 million) in total before 15 June, or stand trial for tax fraud when he returns from the World Cup.
If he decides to go to trial, he could face a prison sentence of eight years.
Ronaldo had apparently hoped that Real Madrid would pay the money as a contract renewal bonus. But the football club has made it clear that it will not, both on ethical grounds and to avoid setting a precedent.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
The Spanish tax authorities have demanded that Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo pay them €28 million (US$33 million), double what he offered to settle his tax fraud case.
The 33-year-old was accused by Spanish prosecutors last June of defrauding the country's tax authorities of €14.8 million (US$17.4 million) in image rights income, according to AS.
Instead he offered €14 million (US$16.4 million), plus an admission of guilt, in exchange for a reduced prison sentence of two years. As he has no previous convictions in Spain, under Spanish criminal law he would not have served any time in jail.
But the Spanish tax authorities have rejected the offer, demanding that the football player pay the total amount of tax defrauded, plus interest, fines and costs. Ronaldo has the option to either pay the €28 million (US$33 million) in total before 15 June, or stand trial for tax fraud when he returns from the World Cup.
If he decides to go to trial, he could face a prison sentence of eight years.
Ronaldo had apparently hoped that Real Madrid would pay the money as a contract renewal bonus. But the football club has made it clear that it will not, both on ethical grounds and to avoid setting a precedent.
Emma Woollacott is a freelance business journalist. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including the Guardian, the Times, Forbes and the BBC.
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