Tax Evasion: Ronaldo to Spend Two Years in Jail

This is not the best of times for Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo who has reached a deal with the Spanish tax authorities to serve two years in prison in a tax evasion case.

The El Mundo Newspaper reported on Friday that the player would also pay €18.8 million (£16.41 million) fine.

According to the publication, Ronaldo accepted four fiscal offences before the tax authorities, each of which carries a punishment of six months in prison.

But, Ronaldo is unlikely to serve any time in jail under the deal because Spanish law states that a sentence of under two years for a first offence can be served on probation.

The 33-year-old Portuguese footballer, who is accused of evading €14.7 million in taxes, has denied all the allegations through his agents.

The news dropped just hours before Portugal’s opening match of the World Cup against Spain. (Reuters/NAN)