Carlo Ancelotti could face near five-year prison sentence over alleged tax fraud case

Spanish prosecutors have requested a prison sentence of over four years for Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti after charging him with defrauding the Treasury, according to reports in Spain.

The state prosecutors allege that the Italian used shell companies to hide parts of his income during his time in charge of the club between 2014 and 2015, as per Associated Press.

He has been accused of two counts of tax fraud, that the prosecutors say would be punishable with a prison sentence of four years and nine months if he is found guilty.

It is alleged that Ancelotti 'only declared income he received from Real Madrid and did not declare income from image rights', and prosecutors accuse of him of defrauding €1 million in 2014 and 2015.

Ancelotti is said to have not paid the required tax during that time period, despite being registered as a resident in Spain for tax purposes.

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According to Spanish outlet Relevo, the alleged amounts relate to €386,361 in 2014, and €675,718 in 2015.

SPORTbible has contacted Carlo Ancelotti's representatives and Real Madrid for comment.

Several high-profile figures in the world of Spanish football have been involved in tax fraud cases in recent years.

Former Barcelona star Lionel Messi, along with his father, was found guilty of defrauding Spain between 2007 and 2009. He was initially handed a 21-month prison sentence, which was later changed to a fine of €252,000 - equalling €400 for each day of the sentence - by the court.

Cristiano Ronaldo accepted a €18.8 million fine from a Madrid court over tax evasion charges as part of a deal, with the deal also including a 23-month prison sentence.

Meanwhile, former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso was acquitted of any wrongdoing by a court after being accused of three counts of tax fraud between 2010 and 2012.

In Spanish criminal law, prison sentences of up to two years are usually automatically suspended if an offender does not have any other prior convictions.