Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has accepted a €18.8 million fine and a suspended 23-month jail term for tax fraud in Spain.
The ruling came on Tuesday on charges relating to his time at former club Real Madrid.
Juventus star Ronaldo arrived at the Madrid court alongside his partner, Georgina Rodriguez.
A judge had earlier rejected Ronaldo’s plea to enter the court complex building via car to avoid the media, which subjected him to signing autographs and responding to reporters on his way up to the steps to court.
Report says the 33-year old will most likely plead guilty to defrauding the Spanish treasury and sign a deal on the sentence and fine.
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Due to the non-violent nature of Ronaldo’s crime, and Spanish law dictating that a term of under two years incarceration can be served on probation for first-time offenders,the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner will not spend any time behind bars.
Ronaldo only spent 15 minutes in the courtroom, as the player needed simply to sign off paperwork for the previously agreed settlement in court.
Former Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon winger Ronaldo has reportedly already paid a tax office penalty in the sum of €13.5 million, after accepting charges he defrauded the court to the tune of €14.7 million.