Real
Madrid have called for the "utmost respect" to be shown to Cristiano
Ronaldo amid suggestions from officials in Spain that he could face jail time
for tax fraud, saying the Portugal captain is "up to date with all of his
tax obligations."
A group of European media outlets have reported that Ronaldo directed at least €150
million in income through the British Virgin Islands tax haven since 2009, and
that the Spanish tax authorities have been investigating his affairs for 12
months already.
As soon as the story broke, Ronaldo's agency Gestifute strongly denied any wrongdoing,
saying that all of its clients are fully compliant with all of their tax
obligations.
Madrid have now issued a statement saying Ronaldo had documents
proving the allegations are unfounded.
The statement read: "In view of the stories published
over recent days and in consideration of the certificate issued by the Spanish
Tax Agency which confirms that our player Cristiano Ronaldo is up to date with
all of his tax obligations, Real Madrid C.F. call for the utmost respect to be
shown towards Cristiano Ronaldo, whose conduct has been absolutely exemplary
throughout all of his time at our club."
The statement comes after the president of the Gestha union,
which represents lower-level workers at Spain's tax authority, said he expects Ronaldo to face tax fraud charges in court.
Gestha's secretary general, Jose Maria Mollinedo, also told
Catalan radio show "El mon a RAC 1" that
Ronaldo could face "six years in prison as a minimum."
Mollinedo added: "The reports about Cristiano Ronaldo look
very much like he has been able to commit a fraud on more than €160m. We are
looking at a serious tax offence. He could get two years in prison for each
year. If the investigation is open for three years, that means six years in
prison, as a minimum."
Ronaldo is not the only Madrid player to be named in the
documents released to European media by the "Football Leaks" website,
with teammates Pepe, Fabio Coentrao and Luka Modric also facing allegations over
their taxes.
El Mundo claimed
that Portugal defender Pepe had routed €3.7m in image rights income through an
offshore company. He has responded via Instagramto say he had previously volunteered information
about his image rights to the authorities to ensure he paid all taxes in full.
"After the information which has appeared in the media, I
inform you that I am up to date with all my tax obligations," Pepe said.
"In previous years when the tax criteria changed in Spain, voluntarily and
before any requirement or intervention from the Tax Authority, I went to them
to regularise my image rights income. I want to thank my new tax advisors at
Senn Ferrero for their advice. I attach the official document to show that this
is all in the past, and I do not have to talk again about this issue."
Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League Group D game at home to
Borussia Dortmund, Madrid captain Sergio Ramos told a news conference: "It's a very delicate subject. I believe
in law and justice. There's nobody better than these authorities to make such
decisions.
"Personally I am very relaxed as everything I have earned
throughout my life has been placed on the table. Some [reports] will be true,
and others will be lies aimed at destabilising, but I don't think this will
have an effect on the team's performance."
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