Brazilian-born footballer Diego Costa is set to go to trial in Spain on 4 June for alleged tax fraud, Sky Sports has reported.
According to a court filing seen by the online sports publication, the striker is accused of defrauding the state of more than €1m (£900,000, $1.11m) by not declaring payments worth more than €5.15m.
The former Chelsea star is also accused of failing to declare image rights of more than €1m.
Reports say that prosecutors in Madrid will ask for a six-month prison sentence and a fine of more than €500,000.
In Spain, sentences below two years for non-violent crimes can be exchanged for a fine; therefore, if found guilty, Costa would avoid prison if he paid an additional €36,500.
Previous cases
Costa is not the only footballer who has been caught in the Spanish taxman’s crosshairs.
Other high-profile names include Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Javier Mascherano, Alexis Sanchez and Gerard Pique.
Football manager Jose Mourinho also admitted failing to pay tax.
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, however, was cleared of three counts of tax fraud on 26 November 2019.
