Real Madrid star Pepe denies claims he swerved tax by revealing financial documents
PEPE has moved to shoot down claims he is swerving tax.
Jorge Mendes clients Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo have been caught up in the tax storm, with Manchester United's boss denying claims he has hidden £10million in earnings through a Caribbean tax haven.
Reports in Spain claim that Pepe's Real Madrid team-mate Ronaldo has directed at least £126million in income through tax havens like the British Virgin Islands since 2009.
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But the star’s agency Gestifute have strongly denied the claims and published documents that they believe prove Ronaldo is innocent.
Now Portugal defender Pepe has followed suit and posted snaps on social media that he believes show there has been no wrongdoing on his part.
As exclusively revealed by the Sun, Premier League clubs face points deductions and being banned from Europe if they are implicated in the Football leaks scandal.
Translated from Spanish, Pepe's pair of posts read...
COMMUNICATION: After the information published in the media, I inform you that I am aware of my tax obligations.
In previous years I proceeded voluntarily and anticipating any request / intervention of the Tax Agency, to regulate my income for image rights due to the change of criteria of the Treasury in Spain. I want to thank my financial advisors Senn Ferrero for their advice. I attach the official document so that this is past history and I do not have to speak again about this topic.
Kepler Ferreira – Pepe
December 6, 2016
PRESS RELEASE Given all the news published during the last week, I would like to inform you that I have always complied with all my tax obligations.
In previous years, due to a change in the Finance criteria in Spain, I proceeded voluntarily and anticipating any application / intervention by the Tax Authority to regulate my revenues recorded for image rights. I want to thank my new tax lawyers Senn Ferrero for their advice and guidance throughout this process.
Attached is an official document so that news related to this topic and with my name will not be published again.
Kepler Ferreira – Pepe
December 6, 2016
Jose Maria Mollinedo, the secretary general of the union at Spain’s tax authority, reckons Ronaldo could face a minimum of six years in the slammer if found guilty.
He told a Spanish radio station: "The information about Cristiano Ronaldo makes it look like he could have defrauded more than €150million.
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“We’d be looking at a major fiscal crime. This would fit a minimum prison sentence for each tax year of the fraud. If the open inspection is for three years, [then it would be] a minimum of six years in prison.
“If, before two months have passed from the opening of the investigation, they legally recognise the facts and pay back the defrauded amount, the punishment can be reduced.”