SHARE
COPY LINK

FOOTBALL

Real Madrid coach Ancelotti to face tax evasion trial

Carlo Ancelotti will stand trial for tax fraud after the Real Madrid coach allegedly failed to declare image rights earnings in 2014 to the Spanish tax office.

ancelotti tax
Ancelotti had declared his earnings as Real Madrid coach in the 2014 tax year but not earnings from his image rights or other related income. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

A Spanish judge said Ancelotti had “acknowledged” the actions which deprived the country’s treasury of 386,361 euros ($428,000), in a court document seen by AFP on Wednesday.

“It is evident that there are sufficient indications to consider the deeds under investigation could constitute an alleged offence against the public treasury,” said the judge in her findings.

Ancelotti had declared his earnings as Real Madrid coach in the 2014 tax year but not earnings from his image rights or other related income, according to the accusations by the Spanish tax office.

The court official dismissed a similar complaint about Ancelotti’s tax return from 2015, which he filed while a tax resident in the United Kingdom.

The Italian, 64, took over at Real Madrid in 2013, before leaving in May 2015, before being appointed at Bayern Munich the following year.

Ancelotti later managed Napoli and Everton before returning to Real Madrid in 2021, where he has one year left on his contract.

The veteran coach has agreed to coach the Brazil national team from June 2024 onwards, the country’s federation said earlier in July.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

FOOTBALL

Barcelona sack coach Xavi after trophyless season

Barcelona sacked coach Xavi Hernández on Friday after the Catalan giants failed to win a trophy this season but just weeks since he and club president Joan Laporta agreed he would stay in the post.

Barcelona sack coach Xavi after trophyless season

Xavi will take charge of the team’s final La Liga match on Sunday at Sevilla before departing.

“Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told Xavi Hernandez he will not continue as coach for the 2024-25 season,” said Barcelona in a statement.

Former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Hansi Flick is heavily tipped to replace Xavi.

In January, Xavi said he would leave at the end of the season but, after a run of strong form, in April he and president Laporta agreed the coach would stay for the next campaign, with his contract expiring in June 2025.

However, the situation quickly changed with Spanish media reporting Laporta was angered by Xavi’s comments suggesting it was hard for the financially-hamstrung club to compete with Real Madrid and other elite European sides.

“Barcelona want to thank Xavi for his work as coach, which adds to his unmatchable career as a player and the captain of the first team, and wish him all the best in the future,” continued Barcelona’s statement.

“In the coming days, Barcelona will reveal the new coaching structure for the first team staff.”

Barcelona won La Liga last season but were not able to successfully defend the title in the current campaign.

They were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Paris Saint-Germain, were hammered by Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final and lost to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey.

When Xavi, 44, made his U-turn to stay, it appeared he and Barcelona were remaining together in a marriage of convenience.

“It’s great news that Xavi is staying,” said Laporta on April 25.

“The team we have, that is (still) consolidating, with very young players, needs that stability.

“Xavi is a reference for young players and we can see that — today I’m especially pleased, and the board have unanimously supported this decision.”

Less than a month later Barcelona’s tempestuous president changed his mind.

Xavi insisted over the past fortnight he was still looking forward to coaching the club next season and felt he had the confidence of Laporta.

Barcelona’s chief appointed Xavi in November 2021 to replace Ronald Koeman, aiming to raise the club back to its pedestal after years of struggle in Europe following their 2015 Champions League triumph.

As a player Xavi made 767 appearances for the Catalan club, behind only Lionel Messi, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues among other trophies.

For years Xavi insisted his dream was to coach Barcelona but in January he said the job was “cruel” and took a toll on him mentally.

Xavi’s likely replacement Flick, 59, has not coached since Germany sacked him in 2023 after a poor run of results.

Previously Flick steered Bayern to a treble in 2020, including an 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

SHOW COMMENTS