Germany: opening of the tax evasion trial of Uli Hoeness, chairman of Bayern Munich

The trial for tax fraud committed by Uli Hoeness, the president of Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) opened in Munich on 10/03/2014. Uli Honess was indicted for tax evasion and released on bail on 20/03/2013. The sausage factory owner, confessed to the tax authorities in January 2013 that he held an account in Switzerland in which he paid several million euros into without paying taxes on the interest earned.

At the opening of his trial, Uli Hoeness admitted evading taxes of at least €18.5m, according to documents provided by his defence; much higher than figures originally discussed, since the Munich prosecutor's office accused him of having avoided paying €3.5m in taxes.

If convicted of tax evasion, Uli Hoeness, born 05/01/1952, faces up to 10 years in prison. In Germany, prison sentences are usually imposed when the tax evasion is greater than one million. To avoid a prison sentence, the defence of Uli Hoeness must prove that his self-denunciation is admissible despite it already being called invalid by the prosecutor of Munich in January 2013.

• "I evaded taxes. I deeply regret my…