Fraud in the World of Football

From Maradona to Ronaldo, including Messi and Mourinho, several of the most illustrious names in world football have clashed with the law over tax fraud.

Lionel Messi

The Argentine forward from Barcelona and his father, Jorge, were convicted in 2016 for irregularities related to 4.16 million euros from image rights received between 2007 and 2009. The 21-month prison sentence for the Blaugrana player was confirmed last May.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner did not go to jail, as sentences of less than two years are generally not served in Spain.

Neymar

Neymar was convicted in March 2016 by the Brazilian justice system and ordered to pay several tens of millions of euros for tax fraud. A year later, he managed, through an appeal, to considerably reduce the fine, even though the court confirmed irregularities in his transfer to Barcelona.

But the Brazilian is also under scrutiny by the Spanish justice system for the conditions of his transfer to Barcelona in 2013. Last May, the player and his parents were brought before a court for "corruption in business." The prosecution requested a two-year prison sentence.

Javier Mascherano

Mascherano, teammate of Messi at Barcelona and in the Argentine national team, was sentenced in 2016 to one year in prison in Spain for tax fraud of 1.5 million euros related to his image rights. The defensive midfielder admitted his guilt to avoid a trial.

Uli Hoeness

The president of Bayern Munich was sentenced in 2014 to three and a half years in prison for defrauding the German tax authorities of approximately 28.5 million euros. After serving 21 months behind bars, half of which in semi-liberty regime, he resumed the position of president in November 2016.

Romario

In 2009, the legendary Brazilian forward was sentenced in his country to two and a half years of community service and a fine of 151,000 euros for tax fraud. Despite his legal cases, he was elected as a deputy in the 2010 elections and as a senator four years later.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The star of Real Madrid, accused of alleged tax fraud amounting to 14.7 million euros, was called to testify on July 31 by the Spanish justice system.

The Portuguese forward is accused of having "taken advantage of a structure created in 2010 to hide income generated in Spain from image rights" between 2011 and 2014.

José Mourinho

The Portuguese coach of Manchester United, formerly of Real Madrid, is accused by the Madrid prosecutor's office of a tax fraud of 3.3 million euros.

Samuel Eto'o

In November 2016, the Spanish prosecutor's office requested a total of 10 years in prison and a fine of 18 million euros for the Cameroonian footballer. The player was accused of not having paid nearly 3.9 million euros for his image rights during his period at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009, through a network of companies.

Other players who played for Barça, such as Brazilian Adriano Correia or Chilean Alexis Sánchez, also faced similar processes.

Falcao

The former Atlético Madrid player is accused of tax fraud amounting to 5.6 million euros in Spain. The Colombian forward from Monaco allegedly used companies based in tax havens to hide income related to his image rights.

His agent, Jorge Mendes, is also implicated.

Ángel Di María

The Argentine international recently saw his home and that of his compatriot and PSG teammate Javier Pastore raided by the French prosecutor's office as part of an investigation following the publication of 'Football Leaks'. The reason is his image rights, allegedly evaded through a tax haven.

Diego Maradona

The former captain of the Argentine national team was ordered in 2005 to pay 37.2 million euros to the Italian tax authorities for irregular tax payments. In 2012, due to procedural errors, the justice system decided to restart the case from scratch and a new investigation is underway.