Tax fraud: Di Maria handed a one-year prison sentence

Di Maria handed one-year prison sentence and fine for tax fraud

Angel Di Maria (pic) has been handed a one-year prison sentence after admitting to tax fraud.

The Paris St Germain winger defrauded the Spanish government a sum of £ 1.14mil (RM6.2mil) during his four-year spell with Real Madrid between 2010 and 2014.

Di Maria, 29, made a deal with authorities to avoid a trial at the Spanish Supreme Court – which found Lionel Messi guilty of similar crimes last year.

He admitted to two separate counts of fraud – each of which will carry a six-month sentence – and will pay 60% fine on top of his arrears, coming to £1.76mil (RM9.5mil).

The Argentinian is unlikely to spend any time behind bars as sentences of under two years are usually suspended, providing the convicted has no criminal record.

Di Maria’s charges relate to the player’s image rights with Los Blancos in 2012 and 2013.

According to Madrid prosecutors, the former Manchester United star transferred his rights to an Irish company owned by super-agent Jorge Mendes, via another holding in Panama.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho, Radamel Falcao, Ricardo Carvalho and Fabio Coentrao have all been investigated for related offences.

Barcelona ace Javier Mascherano also struck a similar deal to Di Maria’s earlier this year.

Di Maria’s admission means he now avoids a high-profile court date.

Messi, also 29, and his father Jorge were each sentenced to 21 months in prison after being found guilty of owing £3.4mil (RM18.4mil) in tax payments in July last year.

Ronaldo, 32, is due to appear in court on July 31 to face allegations he owes the Spanish tax man £13mil (RM70mil).

The Real Madrid star faces no formal charge at this stage and is appearing in court as an “investigated person” and could be fined as much as £37mil (RM200mil) if he is found guilty. – The Sun, London