Dutch soccer coach Guus Hiddink was convicted on Tuesday of tax evasion, fined $60 000 and given a six-month suspended prison sentence. He will not serve any time behind bars.
Prosecutors had sought a 10-month prison sentence, but judges at a court in the central city of Den Bosch said there were mitigating factors, including damage already done to Hiddink’s reputation by publicity surrounding the case.
According to prosecutors, Hiddink evaded paying taxes by claiming a tax home in Belgium when he was actually living in Eindhoven in 2002/03.
”This was not something that happened by accident, but in a calculated and well-considered manner,” Mischa Tol, spokesperson for the national financial prosecutor’s office, said earlier this month.
Hiddink’s lawyers argued that his financial adviser had told Hiddink claiming a tax home in Belgium was legitimate, since he does own a home there.
Hiddink coached South Korea to a surprise semifinal spot at the 2002 World Cup before moving to PSV Eindhoven later that year. He coached Australia at last year’s World Cup before taking up his current post in Russia.
Hiddink’s Russia team is second in Euro 2008 qualifying Group E, with eight points from four matches. Croatia leads the group with 10 points from their four matches. Russia’s next Euro 2008 match is on March 24 at Estonia. — Sapa-AP