Carlo Ancelotti, the current manager of Brazil and former coach of Real Madrid, has become the latest figure in football to face tax evasion charges in Spain. According to reports from The Athletic, the former Real Madrid boss has been handed a one-year prison sentence and a fine of €386,361. This penalty stems from his failure to pay taxes on income from his image rights during the 2014 financial year, which was part of his initial tenure managing Real Madrid. Despite the sentence, he is not anticipated to serve any actual time in prison.
Ancelotti was not charged for the 2015 fiscal year. This was because the court could not establish he resided in Spain for a sufficient period to incur tax obligations, as he relocated to London after being dismissed by Real Madrid. The expectation that he will avoid jail time is based on Spanish legal practice, which rarely enforces prison sentences under two years for non-violent, first-time offenders.
The court proceedings took place in the 30th Criminal Court of the Provincial Court of Madrid between April 2nd and 3rd. During the hearing, it was confirmed that Ancelotti has since paid the outstanding tax debt. His defense argued that Real Madrid was responsible for handling the necessary tax withholdings and that he did not intend to commit fraud.
Ancelotti returned for a second spell as Real Madrid manager in 2021, before taking up the Brazil national team job in June 2025. However, these later years were not included in the scope of this particular investigation. The Spanish Prosecutor`s office had originally sought a much more severe penalty: a prison sentence of four years and nine months along with a €3.2 million fine. Both demands were significantly reduced in the final sentencing.
Ancelotti`s career with Real Madrid includes significant achievements, such as winning three Champions League titles, among other accolades.
