Xabi Alonso was ultimately acquitted of charges of tax evasion in the marketing of his own image rights from 2010 to 2012 as a professional at Real Madrid. It was a highly emotional moment for Leverkusen’s coach, as he was even threatened with a prison sentence.
Bayer coach Xabi Alonso was acquitted. IMAGO/Moritz Müller
When it comes to simple things like football, Xabi Alonso speaks in German in the press conference. But when things get really serious, the Spaniard uses English to avoid confusion. And so the 41-year-old explained on Friday when he was asked about the verdict in Spain: “I will answer in English because this is a very important topic for me.”
In an emotional statement, the Basque explained the pressure he was under because the Spanish tax authorities and the public prosecutor’s office had been investigating him for years. A pressure that has now been lifted from the Leverkusen coach thanks to the ruling of the Spanish Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor in the final instance.
Xabi Alonso relieved: “Fighted until the end”
“It was a very long fight over ten years,” explained Xabi Alonso, for whom the matter was not just about a single-digit million sum. It had previously become public that the Spanish tax authorities had demanded an additional payment of three million euros, a fine of 2.25 million euros and 400,000 euros in interest, as various media reported in September 2015. But according to Xabi Alonso, the public prosecutor’s office had even pleaded for a prison sentence.
“With this request they wanted to put even more pressure on me so that we could enter into an agreement, even though I had done nothing wrong,” a visibly touched Xabi Alonso continued his remarks, “but since I was convinced that I had done everything right , I fought until the end.”
Criticism of the tax authority and public prosecutor’s office
Just as the Spaniard has repeatedly emphasized his trust in the domestic judiciary, he has apparently lost this in the local tax authority and the responsible public prosecutor’s office. “I had the feeling that they knew that they weren’t doing the right thing, but that they just wanted to put pressure on me to reach this agreement,” the former world-class player states unequivocally.
The world and European champion is correspondingly relieved. “I got it right three times in different instances,” said Xabi Alonso, but the tax authorities and the public prosecutor’s office (“They hunted me”) didn’t let up. Until now the Spanish Supreme Court has once again confirmed “that I acted lawfully and did nothing wrong.”
“For me it’s almost like a title in football”
The years of pressure and uncertainty are now over. “It was a very demanding topic, but now I can say that I’m really happy that it’s finally finished. For me it’s almost like a title in football,” concluded the former professional from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the Liverpool FC recognizes the importance of the cause.
Despite his clear conscience, this represented a huge burden for him. “I had the support of my family, my lawyers and many people who had similar things happen to them. It took ten years. It’s not easy when you always have this issue in the back of your mind “, admitted Xabi Alonso, “now it’s finally over.”
2023-10-27 14:09:16
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