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Former Indomitable Lions striker and captain and current president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has admitted to tax fraud before a Spanish Court.
This came after the former Cameroon International admitted to a 3.8 million Euros (2.54 Billion FCFA) tax fraud involving his image rights while playing for Barcelona.
He appeared with his former agent Jose Maria Mesalles in the Ciudad de la Justicia court in Barcelona, on Monday, where he was given a 12-month suspended sentence and a fine.
“I admit the facts and I am going to pay what I’m due, but let it be known that I was a just a child then and that I always did what my former agent Jose Maria Mesalles, who I considered like a father, asked me to do at that time,” Eto’o told the court.
He must pay back the money he owes, as well as a fine of 1.8 million Euros.
Prosecutors allege that between 2006 and 2009, Eto’o failed to register income from the sale of image rights.
According to the court, Eto’o transferred his image rights to a firm situated in Hungary, which claimed his revenues in Hungary, which has one of the “lowest tax rates in Europe.”
Eto’o is the most recent international player or manager to be charged with tax fraud in Spain in recent years, joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Jose Mourinho, and Neymar.
At the age of 23, the 41-year-old, who is currently the president of the Cameroonian football federation (FECAFOOT), joined Barcelona.
During his career, he also played for Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Everton before retiring in 2019.
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