Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for tax evasion.

The 62-year-old was initially charged for not paying €3.5m to the tax authorities, but admitted on Monday that he also did not pay an additional €15m.

The total of avoided tax amounted to €27.2m, to which the businessman did not dispute following an examination of documents that Hoeness provided to investigators before the trial.

Prosecutors in Germany today tried to push for a five-year sentence by the court, but Hoeness asked for leniency as he disclosed all his actions and figures voluntarily during proceedings.

The sentence of three years and six months in jail has been ruled today after he was found guilty, but the sentence is subject to appeal.

Hoeness, who won the World Cup with Germany in 1974, has played a pivotal role in turning Bayern into one of the most successful clubs in Europe.