Former Portugal striker Pinto fined for tax evasion

Lisbon, Sep 11 (IANS) Former Portugal international Joao Vieira Pinto was fined and handed a one-year probation after being convicted in a tax evasion case dating to 2000.

The former striker, now director of the Portuguese Football Federation, will pay a 169,629-euro ($217,000) fine and serve the probation for tax evasion during his signing for Sporting Lisbon from Benfica in 2000, Xinhua reported Monday.

The Lisbon court also gave guilty verdicts to Sporting administrator Luis Duque, businessman Jose Veiga and former Sporting official Rui Meireles, who conspired in the tax evasion scheme in Pinto’s 4.2-million-euro transfer.

Pinto was part of the national team’s so-called Golden Generation, alongside players like Luis Figo and Rui Costa. He scored 21 goals in 81 games for the national team.