Watford owner Gino Pozzo has refuted suggestions in a Spanish newspaper report that he breached Spanish tax laws.

The story was broken by Spanish newspaper El Pais yesterday, who claim the country’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office are seeking prison sentences for those implicated at the end of a five-year investigation.

A spokesperson for Mr Pozzo said: “The case against Mr Pozzo was abandoned in 2022 with absolutely no evidence of fraud or suggestion of criminality.

“Mr Pozzo refutes in the strongest possible terms he has breached Spanish tax laws in any way."

The lengthy article on the El Pais website also names the former Hornets chairman Raffaele Riva, who stepped down from the position in 2016.

The El Pais story goes into great detail about possible breaches of tax laws allegedly made by Spanish football club Granada CF, who were owned by the Pozzo family from 2009 to 2016.

As well as the request for prison sentences, the Prosecutor’s Office are reportedly also seeking to levy substantial fines on those allegedly involved.

In 2016, Granada was sold to Chinese investment group Wuhan DDMC Football Club Management.