Jose Mourinho accepts 12-month prison sentence for tax fraud, avoids jail time

Joe Wright

Jose Mourinho accepts 12-month prison sentence for tax fraud, avoids jail time image

Jose Mourinho has accepted a 12-month prison sentence and a fine of close to $3.45 million (AUD) after admitting to tax fraud in Madrid, but he will not serve time in jail.

Mourinho, 56, was accused of evading paying in the region of $5.2 million in taxes on image rights while he was head coach of Real Madrid.

Under Spanish law, because the sentence is for less than two years, the native of Portugal will not spend any time in prison.

In 2016, Mourinho's representatives Gestifute released a statement insisting he was "fully compliant with tax obligations" after allegations of tax evasion first came to light via the whistleblowing platform "Football Leaks."

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However, he struck a deal with Spanish prosecutors last year that was ratified in court Tuesday.

Mourinho was in charge of Madrid from 2010 until the end of the 2012-13 season. The offenses were alleged to have been committed between 2011 and '12.

It was reported last September that he had agreed to accept a one-year prison sentence and fine in order to bring the legal proceedings to an end.

Speaking to reporters outside court in Pozuelo de Alarcon in November 2017, he said: "I did not answer, I did not argue. I paid and signed with the state that I am in compliance and the case is closed."

A number of prominent figures in world soccer, including former Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo, his ex-teammate Marcelo and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, have been punished for tax offenses in the last two years.

Joe Wright

Joe Wright Photo

Joe is a Senior Editor at Sporting News. He was previously a sub editor and writer for Goal.com before spending six years as part of the Stats Perform editorial news service, covering major global sports including football, tennis, boxing, NBA, rugby union and athletics. Joe has reported live on some of the biggest games in football, including two UEFA Champions League finals, Euro 2016, the Confederations Cup 2017 and the 2018 World Cup final at the end of a month in Russia.