Samuel Eto'o fined and suspended for tax fraud!
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Samuel Eto'o fined and suspended for tax fraud!

Portugal's star Cristiano Ronaldo made a similar prison term escape for tax fraud

Samuel Eto'o fined and suspended for tax fraud!

Here is another soccer star who has got into the taxman's net. Argentina's global soccer star Lionel Messi had avoided a 21-month-long prison sentence for tax evasion by paying a hefty fine. Portugal's star Cristiano Ronaldo made a similar prison term escape for tax fraud. Now former Cameroon forward, Samuel Eto’o is the new addition to this high-profile dubious footballing star list.

Samuel Eto'o has been given a suspended prison sentence in Spain for tax fraud during the time he played for Barcelona, a Spanish court said on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old Eto’o played for Barcelona from the years 2004-09, helping it win two Champions League titles and three Spanish league trophies. He also represented Real Madrid, Real Mallorca, Inter Milan, and Chelsea in a career spanning 22 years. He retired in 2019, and then took up the position of president of the Cameroonian football federation.

In an agreement with tax authorities, Eto’o received a 22-month prison sentence and will have to repay nearly 4 million euros ($4.2 million) in taxes owed. He avoided serving time because in Spain sentences shorter than two years can be suspended for first-time offenders.

Eto’o, who was fined, accepted the judgement but blamed his representative, José Maria Mesalles, for what happened. Mesalles was handed a one-year prison sentence. The prosecution had requested prison sentences of four years and six months each for Eto'o and Mesalles. The sentences were suspended as neither Eto'o nor Mesalles have a criminal record and the terms are less than two years.

-Source (AP - Madrid)