Bayern boss Uli Hoeness sentenced to three years in jail for tax evasion

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has reportedly been sentenced to three years and six months in jail by a German court for tax evasion.

The former World Cup-winning Germany striker, who admitted to defrauding German tax authorities of millions of euros, had kept the funds in a secret Swiss bank account.

According to the BBC, Hoeness was initially charged with evading 3.5 million euros in taxes but he then admitted to dodging another 15 million euros, following which he was sentenced as the judge ruled that his confession fell short of full disclosure.

The report mentioned that the Munich court found Hoeness guilty of 'seven serious counts of tax evasion' and the judge said that the voluntary disclosure is not valid with the documents that were presented alone.

However, the defence said that it would appeal against the sentence although Hoeness will remain free until a final verdict has been handed out.

Bayern Munich fans gathered outside the court building, holding up banners expressing support for the football boss.

Despite the tax evasion scandal, Hoeness remains a very popular figure at the club he helped build up, and the report added that although he offered his resignation last year but was backed by the supporters and the club's board.