Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo "not worried" about off-field issues

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 08 December 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo says that he is "not afraid" of being found of tax fraud by the Spanish authorities, which carries a minimum six-year prison sentence.

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he does not fear being found guilty of tax fraud, amid suggestions that he faces a hefty prison sentence.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been accused of hiding large sums of money from Spanish authorities, thought to be as much as €150m (£127m) generated largely from image rights.

Leaked documents, released by 12 European media publications earlier this week, suggest that Ronaldo had breached rules after diverting the funds to a Caribbean tax haven.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reports that the Portugal international is still under investigation and, if wrongdoing is indeed proved, he could spend a "minimum of six years in prison".

Ronaldo is unconcerned by the off-field talk, however, telling the same publication when plugged on the issue: "You think I'm worried? You shouldn't [think that], I'm not afraid."

Ronaldo's agency Gestifute has strongly denied the claims, which is just one of a number of corruption allegations made against footballers amid a series of leaks.