Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti looks on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match against Paraguay at Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo June 10, 2025. Photo: AP
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has found himself in legal trouble as he has been sentenced to a year in prison by a Spanish court for tax evasion. A Madrid Provincial Court in Spain sentenced him to a one-year prison term due to tax fraud after he was accused of failing to pay one million euros (£830,000) in tax on his salary during his first spell in charge of Real Madrid from 2013 to 2015. The court handed down the sentence on Wednesday for the offence committed in 2014. However, Ancelotti will not have to serve time in jail. He agreed to pay a fine of 386,361.93 euros (£333,045.92) to avoid the prison term.
Under Spanish law, any sentence under two years for a non-violent crime rarely requires a defendant without previous convictions to serve jail time.
Ancelotti ended his spell with Real Madrid at the end of last season and took over the Brazil job after the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) approached Real Madrid for his release.
Reacting to the court proceedings against him, Ancelotti earlier this year said he "never thought about committing fraud" as he testified in court. Ancelotti said he was offered a net salary of 6 million euros (£5.1m) by Real and that he left the structure of it to his financial advisers.
"I thought it was quite normal because at that time all the players and the previous coach had [done the same]," he said. Ancelotti paid back the debt in full in December 2021.
In the past, several footballers and coaches faced identical situations. Lionel Messi, then with Barcelona, was initially handed a 21-month prison sentence in 2017, but this punishment was then reduced to a fine of 252,000 euros, with no jail term attached. Cristiano Ronaldo accepted an 18.8 million euro fine in 2019. Jose Mourinho, a former Real Madrid and Chelsea coach, was fined 2.2 million euros relating to tax charges during his time as Real manager from 2011–12.
What does this sentencing mean for Ancelotti's future as Brazil coach?
The recent conviction and fine against Ancelotti for tax fraud in Spain are unlikely to have any impact on his future as head coach of the Brazil men's national team. He committed a non-violent crime and has no prior convictions, meaning he is unlikely to face any sanctions. However, it will cause him financial hardship. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) signed a deal with Carlo Ancelotti for a one-year contract, with the option for an extension.
