Real Madrid’s celebrated gaffe, Carlo Ancelotti, is embroiled in a legal storm that will see him stand trial in Spain this April. Accused of tax evasion, Ancelotti’s prosecutors say he hid over a million euros (around $1.8 million) in income from the tax man, money he made from image rights during his first tenure at Real Madrid between 2014 and 2015. As one of the most successful managers not just of Real Madrid, but of European soccer, news of the impending trial has drawn significant attention.

What’s Happens Now?

According to Reuters, prosecutors are seeking to put the 66-year-old Don Carlo away for a maximum of four years and nine months, together with a Carletto-sized fine. He’ll be tried for two counts of tax fraud. This comes barely a week after former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter and celebrated French footballer Michael Platini were found not guilty. Both men finally escaped indictment in a similar corruption trial, harking back to around the same time as Ancelotti’s alleged tax evasion. As Blatter and Platini consistently denied wrongdoing, time will soon tell how Don Carlo’s plea will hold up in the Spanish justice system.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Case Rattles More Than Just Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti.

While the Blatter-Platini £1.6 million corruption case is considered the biggest scandal in football history, Ancelotti’s pending trial underscores what appears to be an ongoing scrutiny of high-profile sports figures by Spanish tax authorities. StadiumRant reported how the EPL gave Dai Yongge an ultimatum that expires on April 5. He has to either sell Reading FC or see his club suspended from the league, no thanks to a myriad of accusations primarily bordering on financial misconduct.

Now, Ancelotti has just joined the growing infamous list of soccer celebrities whose white, angelic garments got stained by allegations of various versions of fraud. This list may not be so infamous after all, considering it includes GOAT-y names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

End Of My Carlo Ancelotti Rant

Unlike La Pulga and El Bicho, though, Carlotti’s trial carries profound legal implications not only for his personal reputation but also for Real Madrid, a club synonymous with excellence and global prestige. The last thing the club needs now is distracting scrutiny or to be used as a totem pole for financial practices within the sport.

In any case, Ancelotti insists the alleged discrepancies were unintentional, thereby denying any wrongdoing. As the trial unfolds, it’s over to fans, legal experts, and the footballing world to decide if we’ve just seen a precedent for how tax-related cases involving sports figures are handled in Spain.