Carlo Ancelotti to appear in court days before Champions League clash with Arsenal
03/29/2025 10:13 AM
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will appear in court next month to defend himself against allegations of tax evasion.
Ancelotti is accused of deliberately misinforming the Spanish tax office of his earnings during his first tenure in Madrid.
State prosecutors have claimed the 65-year-old defrauded Spain of €1million (£833,000) between 2014 and 2015.
He has also been accused of using utilised shell companies to hide his earnings.
The Madrid court has scheduled Ancelotti's trial to take place on Wednesday 2 April.
That is one day after the first leg of a Copa del Rey semi-final tie against Real Sociedad and six days before his side play against Arsenal at the Emirates in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
"This is an old story," Ancelotti said.
"The Prosecutor's Office believes I was a resident in 2015, and I believe I wasn't.
"The fine has been paid, and the case is in the hands of my lawyers.
"I'm convinced I'm innocent. Let's see what the judge decides."
Arsenal and Madrid meet 19 years after the Gunners, thanks to Thierry Henry, knocked out Real in the 2005/06 semi-finals.
Arsenal would go on to lose 2-1 in the final to Barcelona.
Previously, Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo have been embroiled in tax fraud scandals, with both accepting multi-million euro fines and suspended prison sentences.
Ancelotti has denied the current allegations although he has previously admitted to underpaid taxes in 2014.
The Italian blamed the situation on errors made by his former accountants.
Relating to his current situation, Ancelotti claims he did not spend the 183 days in Spain required to pay tax.
In contrast the prosecutors will argue the majority of his income came from the Spanish club because he did not assume charge of Bayern Munich until December 2016.
