Egypt: Mohamed Aboutrika sentenced to one year in prison – Foot

Former Egyptian striker Mohamed Aboutrika, one of the country's most famous sportsmen, was sentenced to one year in prison for tax evasion, local media reported.

A court in Cairo on Monday convicted Aboutrika in absentia, state newspaper al-Ahram reported. The former player was found guilty of escaping the tax with a profit of 710,000 Egyptian pounds (about 35,500 euros) for advertising a non-alcoholic drinks and telecommunications company.

The punishment of Aboutrika could be turned into a stay if the player paid a deposit of 20,000 Egyptian pounds (about 1,000 euros).

Aboutrika, 40, lives in Qatar today. He wore Egypt's jersey 100 times between 2001 and 2013 (38 goals). He contributed to his country's success at the 2006 and 2008 FIFA World Cups of Africa.