Jose Mourinho accused of tax fraud as Spanish tax man investigates £2.91m claim when Manchester United boss was at Real Madrid
Spanish tax authorities announce they are investigating Portuguese boss
THE Spanish tax authorities have announced that Jose Mourinho is under investigation for tax fraud while he was manager of Real Madrid.
The Manchester United boss is accused of a tax fraud worth £2.91million (€3.3m) committed in 2011 and 2012.
The Economic Crime Section of the Provincial Prosecutor's Office of Madrid has filed a complaint with the Court of Instruction.
A prosecutor said that Mourinho did not declare income from use of his image rights in order to gain an "illicit benefit".
Mourinho is accused of defrauding £1,419,717.66 (€1,611,537) in 2011 and £1,491,601.39 (€1,693,133) in 2012 from his personal income tax (known as IRPF in Spain), while in charge of Los Blancos.
The 54-year-old is yet to comment on the accusation.
Cristiano Ronaldo has also denied defrauding Spanish authorities out of £13million between 2011 and 2014.
He will appear in court at the end of July to defend himself, although there is no formal charge at this stage.
Ronaldo is said to have taken advantage of what is known in Spain as "the Beckham law".
It allows foreign athletes to pay 24.75 per cent income tax, rather than the 48 per cent tax that Spanish nationals have to pay.
Athletes must pay taxes on other income earned in Spain.
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Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo is accused of diverting €150m of advertising revenue and image rights through a shell company in the British Virgin Islands, a tax haven.
Ronaldo's willingness to leave Real Madrid and Spain has been partially blamed on him being chased by the tax man.
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was last month sentenced to a 21 months in prison - although he is highly unlikely to serve any time behind bars due to his term being under two years - after being found guilty of £3.5m worth of tax fraud between 2007 and 2009.