© EuroFootball.com
Suspicions that Dutch coach Guus Hiddink is hiding taxes have been confirmed. The court of the Dutch city of Den Bosch found the coach of the Russian national team guilty and sentenced him to 6 months of imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros.
G. Hiddink was accused of hiding almost 1.4 million euros in taxes in 2002 and 2003, when he lived in his residence in Belgium, and giving false testimonies. At the beginning of this month, the plaintiffs took the Dutchman to court demanding a 10-month prison sentence for him. The coach himself called the accusations a joke.
From 2000 to 2002, G. Hiddink coached the South Korean national team and led them to 4th place in the 2002 World Cup. He then returned to the Netherlands and coached the "PSV" team.
The attention of the Dutch tax office was drawn to the strategist after investigating his phone calls with a former "PSV" director who was convicted of criminal activities a few years ago.
In court, G. Hiddink claimed that he did not reside in Belgium and also denied living with his girlfriend in Amsterdam. He insisted that while working for "PSV," he spent his time at the club's facilities, hotels, in his car, or at his girlfriend's house.
However, the court found the coach, who led Australia to the World Cup and now coaches the Russian national team, guilty.
