11:56
Cristiano Ronaldo 'to accept jail and also give £16.4m fine' in tax case
The Real Madrid superstar was accused by Spanish prosecutors in June last year of defrauding tax authorities of €14.8m (£12.9m
The news comes hours before Portugal take on Spain in the World Cup.
Ronaldo denied the alleged tax evasion when he appeared in court last summer but the case has still not been settled.
Spanish courts have recently cracked down on tax evasion among footballers.
Ronaldo is unlikely to serve any jail time under the deal - reportedly a verbal one at this stage. Under Spanish law, a two-year sentence for a first offence can be served on probation, with no requirement for custody.
He denied the claims and his agency has yet to comment on the latest reports.
The timing of the news has raised questions, however. Ronaldo is due to play for Portugal in the match against Spain at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia.
Back in 2010, as the financial crisis deepened, Spain lifted a tax exemption that had become known as the "Beckham law", which had allowed footballers to curb their taxes.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi was given a 21-month prison sentence in 2017 on similar charges to Ronaldo but under Spanish law was able to pay a fine instead.
He will also pay a sum amounting to exactly €18.8m (£16.4m).
Having had no previous convictions, Ronaldo would not serve any time in jail.
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