Ronaldo accepts fine for tax evasion, avoids jail

Madrid, January 22 

Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo was fined almost ^19 million for tax fraud but will avoid serving a 23-month prison sentence after agreeing a deal. Ronaldo, holding hands with his fiancee Georgina Rodriguez, came out of the court room smiling, pausing to sign autographs before leaving in a black van. The 33-year-old, who played for Real Madrid from 2009-18, agreed to settle the case by paying an ^18.8 million fine and accepting a suspended jail sentence. 

Under Spanish law, a first offender can serve anything less than a two-year sentence under probation and Ronaldo will not have to go to prison. — Reuters