Dutch soccer coach Guus Hiddink has been fined €45,000 and given a six month suspended jail sentence for tax fraud in 2003. Hiddink, who now coaches the Russian national team, had been accused of defrauding the tax office of almost €1.4m by claiming to live in Belgium in 2002 and 2003.

The court ruled that Hiddink had evaded tax in 2003 because he was registered as a resident of Belgium but did not live there. He was found not guilty of tax evasion in 2002. The court said he had intended to move to Belgium. The court also said it was difficult to determine exactly how
much money was involved.
During the trial, Hiddink admitted he had not spent one night in his Belgian home.
The verdict has ‘damaged my image,’ Hiddink said through his lawyer on Tuesday. Hiddink has not yet decided whether to appeal.