Ex-footballer Samuel Eto'o pleads guilty to ₦1.6 billion tax fraud in Spain

Eto' o plead guilty of #1.6 billion tax fraud

Former Cameroon forward Samuel Eto'o has pleaded guilty to a £3.2m tax fraud relating to his image rights while playing for Barcelona.

The four-time African footballer of the year was given a 22-month suspended prison sentence when he appeared at court in Spain on Monday. He must repay the money he owes, along with a fine of £1.55m.

Prosecutors accused Eto'o of failing to declare income from the transfer of image rights between 2006 and 2009.

On Monday, the former Chelsea and Cameroon striker was sentenced after a trial for defrauding the Spanish authorites of his image rights income while a Barcelona player between 2006 and 2009.

A total of 3,872,621 euros (£3,330,514) was not properly declared by Eto’o, 41.

A Barcelona court handed down a 22-month sentence for Eto’o, which will be suspended because he does not hold a criminal record and the period is under two years. He will also pay a fine of 1,810,310 euros (£1,556,894).

His agent, Jose Maria Mesalles, was also found guilty and will pay a 905,155 euro fine (£778,447). Mesalles was sentenced to one year in prison, which in practice will also be suspended.