Ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid star handed jail term

Ian Watson

Former Real Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho has been sentenced to seven months in prison for tax offences committed while playing in Spain.

Carvalho has also been handed a fine of €142,822 for the offences which took place between 2011 and 2012.

The ex-Chelsea centre-half spent three years between 2010 and 2013 at Real Madrid beofre moving on to Monaco for a further three years. The 39-year-old joined Shanghai SIPG last year.

Spanish prosecutors had requested that Carvalho serve one year in prison and be fined €300,000 but the court felt this was ‘disproportionate’ and acknowledged the ex-Portugal star’s compliance in proceedings as well as having already repaid the €545,981.03 amount defrauded.