Cristiano Ronaldo pays €19 million fine to avoid jail for tax fraud

NEWS

Cristiano Ronaldo arrives with his partner Georgina Rodriguez to attend the court hearing in Madrid
 Cristiano Ronaldo arrives with his partner Georgina Rodriguez to attend 
 the court hearing in Madrid


Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was fined almost €19 million ($21.6 million) for tax fraud on Tuesday but will avoid serving a 23-month prison sentence after agreeing a deal.

Ronaldo, holding hands with his Spanish fiancee Georgina Rodriguez, came out of the court room smiling, pausing to sign autographs before leaving in a black van.

The 33-year-old Juventus forward, who played for Real Madrid from 2009-18, agreed to settle the case by paying an €18.8 million fine and accepting a suspended jail sentence.

Under Spanish law, a first offender can serve anything less than a two-year sentence under probation and Ronaldo will not have to go to prison.

His court appearance lasted about 15 minutes as the five-times world footballer of the year only needed to sign off on the previously settled agreement.

Cristiano Ronaldo
 All smiles: Ronaldo outside court


Earlier, Ronaldo's former Real Madrid team mate Xabi Alonso walked in to face own tax fraud case with his hands deep in his suit pockets. "Yes, all good," was his only response to reporters' questions.


Cristiano Ronaldo leaves with his Spanish girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez after attending a court hearing
 Ronaldo denied knowingly using a business structure to hide income 
 generated by his image rights in Spain

Ronaldo had to enter the courtroom through the front door after his request for special security measures to avoid the spotlight was denied on Monday.



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