Real
Madrid midfielder Luka Modric became the latest football star in Spain accused
by prosecutors of committing tax fraud on revenue from his image rights, a
court filing revealed on Wednesday.
Prosecutors believe the
Croatian, whose wife Vadja is also cited in the accusation, evaded €870 728 in
2013 and 2014 via a shell company set up in Luxembourg.
However, that figure could rise
once details of financial holdings belonging to the player in the Isle of Man
are revealed to Spanish authorities.
Modric, 32, joined Madrid from
Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £30 million in 2012.
He is just the latest in a
series of star players based in Spain to be accused of tax fraud on income
related to image rights in the past few years.
On Tuesday, Madrid left-back
Marcelo admitted to a €490 917 tax fraud via his image rights in 2013.
As part of Marcelo's agreement
with the authorities, the Brazilian is expected to be handed a four-month
suspended sentence and a fine worth 40 percent of the defrauded amount.
Real Madrid's all-time leading
scorer Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in court in July over accusations he evaded
€14.7 million worth of tax between 2011 and 2014.
Barcelona duo Lionel Messi and
Javier Mascherano received 21-month and one-year suspended sentences
respectively after being found guilty of tax fraud over their image rights in
2016.
However, five-time World Player
of the Year Messi's sentence was later replaced by a €252,000 fine.