Spain’s Tax Accusations Turning La Liga Stars Away

The transfer window merry go round is in full swing and one of the stories dominating the back pages is where Cristiano Ronaldo will go next?

The news broke last week that Real Madrid’s record goal scorer wants away after being accused by the Spanish Government of tax evasion with Ronaldo feeling he has received little support from the Real Madrid hierarchy

However, this appears to be a theme in La Liga with other high profile players such as Neymar Jr and Lionel Messi all falling foul of Spanish tax laws.

Ronaldo’s lawyers are claiming that if anything, The Portuguese forward has paid too much tax but it appears the damage has been done and Ronaldo wants out.

Manchester United and PSG are the front runners but for more ideas on where Ronaldo may headed go to this website for online betting.

It is not just the players who are being investigated, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has recently been accused of not paying enough tax during his time in charge of Real Madrid and in 2016, Lionel Messi and his father Jorge were convicted of defrauding the Spanish state of €4.1m in unpaid taxes on the striker’s image rights, controlled by offshore companies in Belize and Uruguay.

Turns out its all David Beckham’s Fault

Yes, that’s right, the origins of these tax issues can be traced back to Mr Beckham and although he is not directly to blame, there is a link.

Back in 2003 when David Beckham joined Real Madrid, he was able to enjoy a new tax-exemption scheme aimed at attracting foreign talent to Spain across all sectors.

That scheme became known as the Beckham Law, when he became one of the first players to sign up to a six-year-long tax ceiling of 24% (roughly half what Spaniards paid on six-figure-plus incomes).

This coincided with Spain going through an economic boom, however, in 2010 the Beckham Law was scrapped for salaries of more than €600,000, and since then tax inspectors have begun to wise up to the use of complex financial operations using offshore shell companies to get around tax laws.

Good News for other leagues such as the EPL?

It appears that players are starting to become a little wary of a move to La Liga and although if properly advised, they will face no problems, the trial of Messi has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many with Ronaldo making it clear he has had enough.

Let’s make it clear, Messi was convicted and proven guilty in a court of law and we are in no way condoning tax evasion, however if it turns out Ronaldo and Mourinho have done nothing wrong, then the stigma that Spain is brushing itself with will keep players away from the division.

More high profile moves to the Premier League, Bundesliga and even Ligue 1 for players as a first choice over La Liga could end up seeing the division that has dominated football for the last decade or so start to fall down the pecking order.

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