Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison for tax evasion.The 62-year-old had admitted to owing approximately €27.2 million in taxes through an undisclosed bank account but his defence team had hoped that he would avoid jail time.
The prosecution demanded that Hoeness be sentenced to five and a half years for failing to properly declare an income of €33m between 2003 and 2009.
Under German law, Hoeness could have escaped prosecution by successfully filing a voluntary disclosure but when he did so last year, it was rejected as the documents were incorrect or incomplete.
The former forward won four Bundesliga titles and three European Cups during his playing days with Bayern and has been involved in administrative roles with the Bavarian club ever since his retirement, serving first as general manager and then as president.