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Valentino Rossi Appears on a List of Suspected Tax Evasionists, Lawyer Says He's Been Clean since 2008

The name of Valentino Rossi (among some other 7,500 Italians) appears on the dreaded “Falciani List”, a list comprising suspected tax evasionists who used the personal and online banking Swiss bank HSBC. The Falciani list got its name after Herve Falciani, a former employee of the said bank who was apprehended by the police in 2008 after a press inquiry which span across multiple years.
Valentino Rossi 1 photo
Photo: motogp.com
French newspaper Le Monde initiated the inquiry, which was called SwissLeaks, and which involved more than 60 other newspapers in Europe. Coordinated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the move revealed a massive scheme for tax evasion, operating worldwide, and which is said to have involved around 180 billion Euros ($203 billion). The existence of the list was known for some time, but the names on it have only now started being revealed.

Rossi’s lawyer says he paid a fine in 2008 and is now clean

Valentino Rossi’s Lawyer, Claudio Sanchironi admits that certain issues had to be dealt in the past. One of the items being investigated seems to have been Rossi’s residence in London. However, Sanchironi says that the Doctor had reached an agreement in 2008 and a fine was paid, with all the charges being dropped.

Rossi’s father Graziano confirms this, saying that his son has indeed paid a fine worth of €30 million ($33.8 mil today), insella reports. Graziano Rossi is also empowered over Valentino’s account, Kikiki 62. He adds that despite the dangerous job Vale has, he is very careful when it comes to money and investments and he sought for the best way to solve the issue of the problematic €23.9 million ($27 mil) in the mentioned account.

A sportsman and a businessman

Apart from being one of the most successful GP riders of all times, Valentino Rossi is also a business man, as this VR|46 merchandise brand is in fact producing merchandise for a lot of other big names in MotoGP, such as Dani Pedrosa, Cal Crutchlow, Scott Redding, and even his new rival and current title holder Marc Marquez. He also owns a restaurant in his hometown of Tavullia and the famous motorcycle-themed property MotoRanch.

Frankly, with the money Rossi is making, it would be silly to try and scam the tax system. By the way, have a peek at this piece on the MotoGP salaries.
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