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A German court has sentenced Uli Hoeness, president of European football champions Bayern
Munich, to three years and six months in jail for tax evasion.
He admitted defrauding German tax authorities of millions of euros.
The former World Cup-winning Germany striker, 62, had kept the funds in a secret Swiss bank
account. His lawyer had argued he should escape punishment
because he gave himself up. But judges ruled his confession fell short of full disclosure.
Hoeness was initially charged with evading 3.5m euros (£2.9m; $4.9m) in taxes but he
then admitted to dodging another 15m euros. It finally emerged in court that he owed a
total of 27.2m euros. 'Not valid'
On Thursday the court in the southern city of Munich found Hoeness guilty of "seven serious
counts of tax evasion". "The voluntary disclosure is not valid with
the documents that were presented alone," the judge said.
The defence said it would appeal against the sentence. Meanwhile Hoeness will remain free
until a final verdict has been handed out. Prosecutors had called for a term of five
years and six months. Bayern Munich fans were gathered outside the
court building, holding up banners expressing support for the football boss.