Alonso acquitted of tax fraud in Madrid where he faced 5-year prison sentence

Former Liverpool hero Xabi Alonso has been acquitted of tax fraud in Madrid, where he faced a five-year prison sentence.

Alonso, who won the Champions League in his first season with Liverpool, was tried for three counts of tax fraud state prosecutors said he had committed between 2010 and 2012. He was playing for Real Madrid at the time.

The case revolved around nearly £2million prosecutors claimed Alonso evaded in tax from image rights.

Alonso, 37, has consistently protested his innocence and was the only one of a long list of footballers accused of tax fraud in Spain who decided to go to trial instead of paying the Spanish Treasury the tax it was claiming plus fines.

The 37-year-old's trial ended last month and he was facing two and a half years in prison after state prosecutors lowered their initial demand that he be jailed for five.

News he had been cleared was confirmed Tuesday by Madrid’s Audiencia Provincial Court in a 30-page ruling.

It was not immediately clear if the decision, taken by three trial judges, would be appealed by state prosecutors.