Brazil legend Romario convicted of tax evasion

Former Brazilian international footballer Romario has been convicted of tax evasion for the second time by a court yesterday.

The 42-year-old was sentenced to two and a half years community service and ordered to pay a fine of 391,000 reales ($222,000).

The case relates to Romario's tax returns in 1996 when he played for Brazilian club Flamengo. Romario could still appeal the decision.

Romario was also convicted and sentenced on June 9 to three years in prison and fined $569,000 after accusations he evaded about 500,000 dollars in taxes when he played for Flamengo in 1996 and 1997. Romario, who played for a host of top clubs including Barcelona finished his career at Brazilian side Vasco de Gama in 2008.