Di Maria Found Guilty And Fined £1.76m For Tax Fraud

Angel Di Maria has admitted to defrauding the tax authorities in Spain, and has been fined £1.76 million as a result. The winger was also handed a sentence of around a year in prison. However, it appears that he will not be spending time behind bars after all.

Di Maria pleaded guilty to two separate counts of fraud – both of which carry a six month jail sentence. He committed the two offences during his time at Real Madrid between 2010-2014, where he defrauded the tax officials of a sum of £1.14 million.

However, the Argentine will not be doing his time in jail, as prison sentences below two years are often suspended in Spain, as long as there is no previous criminal record. Di Maria had also agreed a deal with authorities to avoid a trial at the Spanish Supreme Court.

The 29-year-old is one among several other top names in football being exposed for tax fraud. Lionel Messi was taken to trial along with his father, and was found guilty. He was handed a prison sentence of 21 months, but as it was below two years, it too, was suspended.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are now the two top names that are being accused of defrauding the authorities. Ronaldo has stood firm and denies all allegations that he hid an income of £12.9 million from the tax authorities and has been called to testify in court on the 31st of July.

Mourinho, on the other hand, has been riled up by the accusations sent his way, claiming to have paid over £23 million to the Spanish taxmen between 2010 and 2013. He has been accused of failing to pay £2.9 million.

 

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