A Spanish court has sentenced Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of the Brazil national soccer team, to a one-year prison term due to tax fraud that occurred while he was managing Real Madrid in 2014. Additionally, the court fined him €386,000 ($452,187).

Spanish authorities accused Ancelotti of defrauding the state of €1 million ($1 million) in both 2014 and 2015. The prosecution sought a longer prison sentence of up to four years and nine months on two separate counts of tax fraud.

In March 2024, authorities alleged that Ancelotti had used shell companies to obscure his actual earnings. For instance, one company that he utilized had no actual economic activity in the Virgin Islands, as part of the purported scheme.

Carlos Sanchez, Ancelotti’s press officer, informed the Associated Press that the coach would refrain from making comments at this stage.

The Brazilian soccer confederation stated it is monitoring the situation closely.

Ancelotti’s case adds to a growing list of high-profile soccer figures scrutinized by Spanish tax authorities, including notable players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and also former coach Jose Mourinho. Despite the investigations, none of these figures have served prison time to date.

In Spain, judges can suspend sentences of less than two years for first-time offenders.

Ancelotti, who will celebrate his 67th birthday on Thursday, is one of the most celebrated coaches in soccer history. He has won the Champions League five times, achieving three of those victories with Real Madrid and two with AC Milan, along with domestic league titles in England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France.

Following this, Ancelotti left his position at Real Madrid to lead Brazil’s national team.