Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa wearing a protective face mask arrives at a court to attend a trial for tax fraud in Madrid, Spain, June 4, 2020. (Photo by Reuters)

Atletico Madrid striker, Diego Costa, appeared before a court in the Spanish capital on Thursday to face his tax fraud trial, after reaching an agreement with the prosecutors to avoid prison time.

Costa pleaded guilty to defrauding the state of more than one million Euros, following his move to Chelsea in 2014, as well as more than one million Euros in image rights.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa left court after making a brief appearance on Thursday as he prepares to face a tax fraud trial! pic.twitter.com/RXDANuGaqj

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) June 4, 2020

Prosecutors in Madrid were due to ask for a 6-month prison sentence, and a fine of over half-a-million Euros. However, the Spanish law allows Costa to avoid jail-time by paying an additional fine of around 40,000 Euros.

It is reported that Costa has already paid the corresponding fines, thus the request for a prison sentence has been withdrawn.