Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Uli Hoeness jailed: Bayern Munich boss given sentenced to three years for tax evasion

Club president sentenced to three years and six months

Charles Reynolds
Thursday 13 March 2014 15:01 GMT
Comments
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness was reduced to tears at the club's annual general meeting
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness was reduced to tears at the club's annual general meeting (GETTY IMAGES)

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison for tax evasion.

The boss of the current European champions admitted defrauding the German tax authorities of millions of euros, keeping the funds in a secret Swiss bank account.

The 62-year-old's lawyer had argued that he should have escaped punishment having given himself up to the authorities, however judges ruled that his confession had not stopped short of full disclosure.

Hoeness was ultimately found guilty of "seven serious counts of tax evasion".

The former World Cup winner was initially charged with evading €3.5m (£2.9m) in taxes, but later admitted in court to dodging another €15m.

It finally emerged in court that he actually owed a total of €27.2m.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness (GETTY IMAGES)

Hoeness owned up to his secret bank account last year, in the hope of an amnesty in exchange for paying the tax he owed.

However prosecutors said this was merely due to the fact that investigators were already looking into his case.

The sentencing marks a dramatic end to this high profile case that has reportedly captivated both the front and back pages of the German press.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in