A one-year suspended prison sentence and a massive fine of over €380: this is the sentence handed down by the Madrid Provincial Court to Carlo Ancelotti, current Brazil coach and former Real Madrid manager. He received no prison time, but the tax fraud charge for 2014 was upheld. The charge for 2015, however, was dismissed, resulting in a partial acquittal for the Italian coach.

According to Spanish press reports, the case concerned the alleged withholding of income from the exploitation of his image rights, which were sold to other entities during his first stint as Real Madrid coach . The total amount of the alleged fraud was close to €1,1 million. The prosecutor's office had requested a much harsher sentence: 4 years and 9 months in prison.

Last April, Ancelotti attempted to clarify his position before the courts, claiming he had relied on his English consultant without ever suspecting any irregularities: "When Real Madrid proposed selling me their image rights, I contacted my English consultant and then didn't bother with it anymore because everything seemed correct to me." This defense only partially convinced the court.