Cristiano Ronaldo Appears In Spanish Court Over Alleged Tax Fraud, Denies Wrongdoing

by Pablo MenaJuly 31, 2017, 2:39 pmDaily Digest, News, Z-Home Slider >

Cristiano Ronaldo claims he has “never hidden anything,” and denied allegations of tax evasion during a hearing at a Spanish court on Monday.

Cristiano Ronaldo tax evasion court hearing

The 32-year-old Real Madrid forward was accused of defrauding Spanish authorities of €14.7 million ($17.3 million) in tax between 2011 and 2014.

Ronaldo’s hearing was held at Pozuelo de Alarcon, on the outskirts of Madrid, and was closed to the public given that it is part of an ongoing investigation.

The Portuguese soccer star did not speak to reporters immediately following the 90-minute court session, although his agency Gestifute later released a statement.

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“The Spanish Treasury knows in detail all of my incomes, because we have given them; I have never hidden anything, nor have I intended to evade taxes,” the statement read. “I always submit my tax returns in a voluntary way because I believe we all have to declare and pay taxes in accordance with our income.”

“Those who know me know what I ask my aides: that they have everything up to date and correctly paid because I don’t want any trouble.”

Spain’s Hacienda tax agency case that Ronaldo and Gestifute routed image rights income through a network of companies to avoid paying the relevant taxes from 2011 to 2014.

The four-time Ballon d’Or winner — who recently had twins and is expecting another child with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez — has been charged with four crimes against the public treasury.

In a statement issued in June, the prosecutor’s office said Ronaldo had used a “business structure” — created in 2010 — to hide the revenue generated by his image rights from the Spanish treasury, describing the breach as “voluntary” and “conscious.”

In his statement to judge Mónica Gómez Ferrer, Ronaldo alleged that the company structure had been created while he was still playing for Manchester United and that it was approved by Britain’s tax authority.

“When I signed for Real Madrid, I did not create a special structure to manage my image rights, I simply maintained the one that was already managing them when I was in England,” Ronaldo told the court, according to the Gestifute statement.

“The lawyers recommended to me by Manchester United created it in 2004, long before I thought about coming to Spain. The structure was a common one in England and was verified by the English tax authority, which confirmed that it was legal and legitimate.”

If found guilty, Ronaldo could be ordered to pay back taxes and a fine — which could be as high as €50 million ($59 million).

Ronaldo did not play for Real Madrid in the team’s 3-2 International Champions Cup Loss to Barcelona in Miami on Saturday.

Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said the Portuguese star is expected to return to the team when they travel to Europe on Saturday. Ronaldo is then unlikely to feature in the European Super Cup against Manchester United in Skopje on Aug. 8, or the Spanish Supercopa games against Barcelona on Aug. 13 and 16.

In the last year, Ronaldo has helped Real Madrid capture the Spanish League and the Champions League trophies, and also guided Portugal to win the Euro 2016 tournament.

According to Forbes, Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid athlete, having earned $93m over the last 12 months, with his salary accounting for $58m and endorsements $35m.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was also recently appeared in court for tax evasion, although he is unlikely to serve his 21-month prison sentence because of Spanish laws involving first-time offenders for non-violent crimes.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 28: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Real Madrid and Club Atletico de Madrid at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 28, 2016 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)