Cristiano Ronaldo reacted to accusations that he evaded paying taxes of
14.7 million euros ($16.4 million) by saying that remaining silent was
the “best answer”.
“Sometimes the best answer it’s to be quiet,” the Real Madrid star
forward said on Instagram with a photo of himself in a Portugal polo
shirt and right forefinger raised to his lips.
Ronaldo insisted Wednesday that he had a “conscience clear, always”, as
he arrived at Lisbon airport to fly out to the Confederations Cup in
Russia.
Real Madrid have given their backing to Ronaldo, saying they had “full
confidence in our player Cristiano Ronaldo, who we understand has acted
in accordance with the legality regarding the fulfilment of his fiscal
obligations”.
The 32-year-old Ronaldo — the world’s highest-paid athlete according to
Forbes magazine — follows in the footsteps of Barcelona forward and
Argentina star Lionel Messi, who was found guilty of the same offence
last year, although the sums involved were allegedly smaller.
If he too is put on trial and found guilty, he risks “a fine of at least
28 million” euros and could potentially be jailed for three-and-a-half
years, according to the Gestha union of experts at Spain’s Inland
Revenue.
