SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, (THEWILL) – Cristiano Ronaldo has appeared at a Spanish court, on Monday, where he is facing allegations he evaded millions in taxes.
Ronaldo spent an hour-and-a-half giving evidence to judges at a court in the Madrid suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón dodging the media camped outside by arriving and leaving via an underground garage.
Prosecutors are accusing Ronaldo, 32, of evading €14.7m ($17.3m; £13.1m) in tax.
The Real Madrid star had previously denied the allegations saying his “conscience is clear”.
He had been expected to make a statement after the pre-trial hearing, but left without saying a word.
The Portuguese skipper is the latest in a string of footballers to be pursued by the Spanish tax authorities.
THEWILL recalls that Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who plays for Barcelona, was handed a 21-month prison sentence after being found guilty of the same charge last year.
Earlier this month, the court ruled he could pay €252,000 in place of jail time as he was only accused of evading €4.1m in tax, €10.6m less than Ronaldo.
