Ronaldo tells judge he has 'never tried to avoid taxes'
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo denied hiding millions of euros in income at a court hearing near Madrid on Monday where he was charged with tax evasion, the latest footballer star to fall foul of Spain's taxman.
- Sports
- AP
- Published Date: 12:00 | 31 July 2017
- Modified Date: 06:20 | 31 July 2017
Cristiano Ronaldo has told a Spanish judge that he has "never tried to avoid taxes."
The Real Madrid player, who is from Portugal, was questioned Monday to determine whether he committed tax fraud. Ronaldo spent more than 90 minutes answering the questions of investigating judge Monica Gomez.
According to a statement released by his public relations firm, Ronaldo told the judge: "I have never hidden anything, nor had the intention to avoid taxes."
Judge Gomez took Ronaldo's testimony as part of an investigation to determine if there are grounds to charge him.
A state prosecutor accused Ronaldo in June of four counts of tax fraud from 2011-14 worth 14.7 million euros ($16.5 million).