Ronaldo denies fraud tax allegations

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has strongly denied allegations he defrauded the Spanish tax office of £12.9m. The statement, released via his representatives, was in response to a tax fraud lawsuit being filed against the 32-year-old Real Madrid star on Tuesday.

The prosecutor alleged he used an off-shore company to hide a portion of his income from the tax office – but a statement from Ronaldo’s manage- ment company insisted the company, Tollin, which was established during Ronaldo’s time with Manchester United, has acted in accordance with British and Spanish tax laws.

Ronaldo took advantage of what is known in Spain as ‘the Beckham law’ – which allows foreign sportspersons to pay 24.75% income tax, rather than the 48% applied to Spanish nationals. Athletes must still, however, pay taxes on other income earned in Spain.