The former star striker avoided taxes while representing FC Barcelona in the early 2000s.
Four-time African footballer of the year Samuel Eto’o avoided taxes during 2006-2009 while representing FC Barcelona. AOP
Cameroonian former star striker Samuel Eto’o, 41, has pleaded guilty to tax fraud in Spain. The fraud concerns his photographic rights from the time he represented the Spanish FC Barcelona. Eto’o evaded taxes for almost four million euros.
Eto’o, who has been voted footballer of the year for Africa four times, was sentenced to 22 months in prison in Spain on Monday. In addition, he has to repay tax claims of EUR 3.7 million and fines of EUR 1.8 million.
Eto’ota was accused of failing to declare his income from the transfer of image rights in 2006-2009. Eto’o transferred his photo rights to a company based in Hungary, which announced that Eto’o had earned its photos in Hungary, where the tax rate is among the lowest in Europe.
Also Eto’o’s former player agent Jose Maria Mesalles convicted of tax fraud. Mesalles was sentenced to 12 months in prison and fined.
– I admit the facts and I’m going to repay what I owe. However, we want to make it clear that I was only a child then and I always did what my former agent Jose Maria Mesalles, who I thought was like as my father, asked me to do, Eto’o told the court.
Eto’o is the latest high-profile footballer to be prosecuted in Spain. In the past, among other things Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar as well as a coach Jose Mourinho has been convicted of tax evasion while in the country.
Eto’o, one of the most successful African football players of all time, represented Barcelona from 2004-2009. During his career, he also played for Real Madrid, Internazionale, Chelsea and Everton, among others, before ending his career in Qatar in 2019.
Today, Eto’o is president of the Cameroon Football Association.
Source: BBC