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Sports Wednesday, January 23, 2019 17 Ronaldo avoids jail but hit by hefty fine for tax fraud in Spain Ronaldo, 33, smiled broad- tween 2011 and 2014. appeared at the same Madrid Prosecutors accuse ly as he arrived at the court His lawyers argued there court on Tuesday for the first him of having used dressed in black trousers, a had been a difference in inter- time on a separate tax evasion black turtleneck and dark sun- pretation of what was and was charge. companies in low-tax glasses, holding hands with his not taxable in Spain, and deny Public prosecutors are seek- foreign jurisdictions girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez. any deliberate attempt to evade ing a five-year jail sentence and Police officers escorted him. tax. But under the deal between a fine of four million euros. to avoid paying the He had played for Juven- Spain’s tax authorities and his The trial was suspended tus on Monday night, missing lawyers, Ronaldo pleaded guilty while the court considers tax due in Spain for a penalty as the Italian league to four counts of tax fraud. whether it has jurisdiction to his image rights leaders eased past bottom club The agreement allowed hear the case. Chievo 3-0. Ronaldo to avoid sitting through “I never hid anything, I a long trial that could have dam- have to defend myself,” Alonso, AFP Offshore companies aged his image and seen him 37, told reporters as he left the MADRID Madrid prosecutors opened handed a heftier sentence. court. a probe into Ronaldo in June Ronaldo is one of several Ronaldo is also facing ac- JUVENTUS star Cristiano Ron- 2017 and he was questioned in footballers to have fallen foul of cusations in the United States aldo avoided jail on Tuesday but July that same year. Spain’s tax authorities in recent where a former American mod- was ordered by a Spanish court “I have never hidden any- years. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, el accused him of raping her in to pay 3.57 million euros for thing, nor have I had the in- once Ronaldo’s big La Liga rival, Las Vegas in 2009. committing tax fraud when he tention of evading taxes,” he paid a two-million-euro fine in Police in the US city recent- was at Real Madrid. told the court then, according 2016 in his own tax wrangle and ly asked Italian authorities for The court sentenced him to to a statement from the sports received a 21-month jail term. a DNA sample from the foot- a two-year jail sentence that it Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo arrives with his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez to appear in court on a trial for agency which represents him, The prison sentence was baller. immediately reduced to a fine of tax fraud in Madrid on Tuesday. (REUTERS) Gestifute. later reduced to a further fine Ronaldo has always denied 365,000 euros, which adds on Prosecutors accused him of of 252,000 euros, equivalent to the accusations. to another penalty of 3.2 million agreed to pay Spain’s taxman the court appearance which the crowd of reporters gathered having used companies in low- 400 euros per day of the origi- In a New Year’s Eve inter- euros, the sentence read. under a deal reached in June lasted around 40 minutes as the outside of the court in north- tax foreign jurisdictions -- no- nal term. view with Portuguese sports A court spokesman said with the player’s lawyers. deal was officially presented to eastern Madrid as he left the tably the British Virgin Islands daily Record, he said he had he did not know whether this Ronaldo, who last year the judge. hearing. He signed a few auto- and Ireland -- to avoid paying Alonso faces trial a “calm conscience” and was would be added on to the 18.8 joined Italian champions Ju- “I am very well,” the five- graphs before leaving in a black the tax due in Spain on pay- Ronaldo’s former Real Ma- “confident that everything will million euros that Ronaldo had ventus, returned to Madrid for time Ballon d’Or winner told van. ments for his image rights be- drid team-mate Xabi Alonso very soon be clarified”. Training at Khalifa Int’l Stadium inspired England stars: Neville SC.QA DOHA THE England women’s team has been inspired by training at one of Qatar’s FIFA World High Standard A file photo of Argentinian Cup stadiums as they aim for forward Emiliano Sala. (AFP) glory in two major tourna- I preach to the players every ments this year. day about raising standards Channel rescuers The Lionesses arrived in – and we’ve come to a Doha last week for a week-long country where nothing but the suspend search training camp at Khalifa Inter- best is acceptable. The national Stadium. Led by head facilities, weather and for missing coach Phil Neville, the players conditions are great, and footballer Sala are preparing for next month’s what I’ve witnessed over the SheBelieves Cup in the United past few days is that the States, while also having one AFP eye on the FIFA Women’s players have risen their LONDON World Cup, which will kick off standards. on June 7 in France. POLICE on the British island Neville, who won six Eng- ing to get out here. I don’t see of Guernsey on Tuesday sus- lish Premier League titles and the negativity – all I see is great pended a search for a missing the UEFA Champions League infrastructure, great ambition plane carrying new Cardiff with Manchester United, told and the legacy the Qataris want City striker Emiliano Sala, www.sc.qa his side had been to leave. It’s the first World Cup warning that survival chanc- inspired by their surroundings. Supreme Committee Chief of Tournament Readiness & Experience Nasser al Khater, with Phil Neville, Baroness Sue Campbell and David in this region and when you talk es were “slim” if the aircraft “I didn’t tell the players we Faulkner during their visit to the SC’s Legacy Pavilion. about the World Cup, you want landed on water. would be training at Khalifa to inspire the world, so you’ve Guernsey police said a Stadium – I kept it as a surprise Cup are going to be absolutely got to take it to other parts of 15-hour search covering a for them – and when they came amazing and the unbelievable the world. Coming to Qatar is 3,000-square-kilometre area into the stadium, they were warmth of the people means the next step on the World Cup in the Channel spotted “a blown away. To be in a World this could be one of the greatest journey,” the former Manches- number of floating objects in Cup stadium was a big moment World Cups of all time.” ter United great added. the water”. for them,” he said. Neville, who took over as England’s women will head “We have been unable “I preach to the players head coach of the Lionesses into the World Cup as one of to confirm whether any of every day about raising stand- a year ago, said he was im- the favourites after finishing these are from the missing ards – and we’ve come to a pressed with Qatar’s compact third at the last tournament in aircraft,” the police said in a country where nothing but the tournament plans – saying Canada in 2015. statement. best is acceptable. The facilities, they’d be a massive boost for Neville, who won 59 caps “We have found no signs weather and conditions are players and fans. for England, said: “When I got of those on board. If they did great, and what I’ve witnessed “The relatively short dis- the job I said on day one that land on the water, the chanc- over the past few days is that tance between venues means I want to win the World Cup. es of survival are at this stage, the players have risen their England women’s national team trains at the Khalifa International Stadium. you can play a game at lunch- We’ve talked a lot about the unfortunately, slim.” standards. This was the perfect time and then go and watch jump from third to first. Those The search included air- setting to get people thinking he expected the 2022 men’s there’s been more develop- oness Sue Campbell, Head of Brazil play at night. This is players with a bronze medal say craft and sea vessels from the about winning the World Cup,” tournament to be one of the ment,” said Neville, who visited Women’s Football, and David something that’s probably it felt special but now they want Channel Islands, the UK and Neville added. greatest ever. the SC’s Legacy Pavilion with Faulkner, Head of Women’s never happened before at a gold. I’ve been brought up with France, and will resume on A regular visitor to Qatar “I’ve been here about 15 two colleagues from the Eng- Performance. World Cup. a mentality that finishing first is Wednesday, the police said. in recent years, Neville said times and every time I come lish Football Association: Bar- “The facilities for the World “If I was a player, I’d be dy- the only thing that matters.” Sala, 28, was flying to Cardiff aboard a small plane that disappeared from radars around 20 kilometres north of Guernsey on Monday night. The Argentine striker Boateng prepared for bit-part role was signed by the Welsh side on Saturday from France’s Nantes for a reported fee of 17 at Barcelona after shock loan move million euros.

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