JAIL THREAT TO RONALDO OVER HIS TAX
CRISTIANO RONALDO could face at least six years in jail for tax evasion.
Spanish media are reporting that the Real Madrid star has stashed £130million in tax havens, including the British Virgin Islands, since 2009.
Ronaldo’s agents strongly deny any wrongdoing. But Jose Maria Mollinedo, a senior figure in Spain’s tax authority’s trade union, claimed the Portugal striker (above) may end up behind bars.
Mollinedo said: “We’d be looking at a major fiscal crime. This would fit a minimum prison sentence for each tax year of the fraud. If the open inspection is for three years, then it would be a minimum of six years in prison.
“If before two months have passed from the opening of the investigation they legally recognise the facts and pay back the defrauded amount, the punishment can be reduced.”
Another tax expert Carlos Cruzado believes Ronaldo will go to trial. “That is what you would expect,” he said. “We feel the tax authority should pass the case to the public prosecutor, so that they take the reins on this. It is very easy to see this ending up in front of a judge.”
The story has disrupted Real’s preparations for tonight’s group F clash with Dortmund at the Bernabeu. They must beat the Germans to top the group.
It is now 33 matches since Madrid last lost – to Wolfsburg in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the same competition in April – and should they make it 34, they would match a record set in 1998-89.
Boss Zinedine Zidane said: “It’s a final. We want to win. We’re only thinking about winning. We’re not going to look at or think about other things. We want to finish top of the group.”
Zidane defended striker Karim Benzema, who has been jeered by Real fans over his performances.
“I’m not worried about Benzema at all,” said the Real boss. “He can always give more, but then everyone can.”
Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons claims his side have nothing to lose as they try to qualify for the knockout phase by beating Sevilla by two clear goals in their final Group H match.
The French side looked odds-on to finish third with two games remaining, but their win in Zagreb last time out coupled with Sevilla’s home defeat by leaders Juventus has left everything to play for at the Stade de Lyon.
Victory by anything less than two clear goals means Sevilla will pip Lyon on goal difference, but Gonalons believes his side has gained enough big-match experience in recent years to snatch second place.
“The league match against Monaco last season was a crunch game and a perfect example,” he said.
“It’s a different competition here and we don’t have much to lose. Before Juventus away we had very little hope of qualifying and now we have our destiny in our own hands. As a footballer you live for these moments.”