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MUNICH - Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness was found guilty Thursday and sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for evading millions of euros (dollars) in tax through an undeclared Swiss bank account. Nike NBA Jerseys . The 62-year-old Hoeness, one of the most powerful figures in German soccer, was initially charged with dodging 3.5 million euros ($4.85 million) in taxes through the Swiss account. But when his trial opened Monday he admitted to avoiding 15 million euros more. Then it came out through an examination of documents he provided to investigators shortly before the trial that he owed 27.2 million euros in total — a number Hoeness did not dispute. Hoeness had faced up to 10 years in prison, and the sentence came between the 5 1/2 years suggested by the prosecution and the defences plea for probation, based on the fact that he had turned himself in for tax evasion and provided details to the court, the dpa news agency reported. Following the verdict, defence attorney Hanns Feigen said he would appeal the decision to see how a higher court would value Hoeness "not ideal" confession. He added that he was convinced the appeals court would come to a "better result" than the Munich state court did. Hoeness will remain free on bail pending the outcome of the appeal. German authorities have been cracking down on tax evaders in recent years, and have recovered hundreds of millions of euros. Their widely-publicized purchase of leaked account information on thousands of investors, as well as high-profile cases such as that against Hoeness and former Deutsche Post AG CEO Klaus Zumwinkel, has led to thousands of people turning themselves in. Hoeness, who also is part owner of a Nuremberg sausage factory, reported himself to the tax authorities last April — around the same time that German media were investigating reports of high-profile tax evaders. News of the case against the national icon prompted even Chancellor Angela Merkels spokesman to weigh in and say the countrys leader was disappointed in him. As a player, Hoeness was a Bayern star who won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup with West Germany and three straight European Cups — the predecessor of the Champions League — before retiring in 1979 with chronic knee problems. He became the Bundesligas youngest coach when he was 27. Bayern has been enjoying unprecedented success under Hoeness presidency. The club stood by him during the investigation, and its supervisory board was expected to meet following the verdict to see what steps to take next. Bayern Munich said it would issue a statement later Thursday. In three decades as manager and president of Bayern, Hoeness conducted a prudent financial policy that left the club not only without debts but with a fat bank account. Hoeness refused to spend lavishly on foreign superstars but brought in the best of German talent. In recent years, Bayern started spending more on players and the result was its first treble last season, when it won the Champions League, the Bundesliga and the German Cup. The club is on course to win the Bundesliga again — perhaps even undefeated — and could become the first team to defend the Champions League title. Bayern could accomplish the treble again. Hoeness was also instrumental in signing coach Pep Guardiola. With three "strategic partners" — Adidas, Audi and Allianz, which each have an 8.33-per cent stake in the club — Bayern has some of Germanys best known companies behind it. The club has also paid off its stadium. NBA Shop . Vincent Lamar Carter is no longer the lean, athletic dynamo who dazzled Raptors fans with eye-popping dunks that posterized even the leagues best defenders. Custom NBA Jerseys . He could have transferred when academic sanctions barred the Huskies from the NCAA tournament his junior season. FRISCO, Texas -- Even without its offensive centrepiece, the Montreal Impacts offence seemed quite healthy in its MLS season opener. The defence, however, was another matter. Though they generating scoring chances in bunches -- even with 2013 leading scorer Marco Di Vaio watching from a box -- the Impact couldnt overcome its shaky defence in a 3-2 loss to FC Dallas on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium. "We gave up three goals. Its hard to win when you give up three goals," coach Frank Klopas said. "There were situations we could have avoided and handled better. "We had the shots on goal, we pushed the game, we created chances a but weve got to limit the goals or its going to be difficult. We scored two goals on the road and had more chances, so you figure youve got to walk away at least with points." Instead, Montreal has none, as Dallas speedy attackers consistently drove the ball deep and put the Impacts defenders in difficult positions. On two occasions those turned into fouls that led to FCD goals. Dallas Mauro Diaz blew past midfielder Sanna Nyassi on the right wing and cut inside toward the goal in the 23rd minute of a 1-1 game. Defender Jeb Brovsky caught him from behind, but Diaz went down on minimal contact in the box, giving Dallas a penalty kick that Blas Perez converted. "I felt like I could have sneezed harder and the guy would have fallen over," Brovsky said. "But thats part of the game. a The play should have stopped before that, and I had something to do with that. Im not happy about that, but you move on." Diaz scored on a curling 20-yard free kick in the opening minutes of the second half to give Dallas a 3-1 lead after Montreals Hernan Bernardello was called for a handball as FCD again threatened. The Impact made Dallas sweat despite the chilly conditions -- 5C with 24-kilometre per hour winds at kickkoff -- by continuing to press the attack. NBA Jerseys Store. It paid off in the 65th minute when Andrew Wenger, taking the lead forward role usually manned by Di Vaio, headed a pretty cross from Felipe past Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz to close the gap to a goal. But Seitz came up big in the final minutes to close the door for FCD. Di Vaios absence -- the result of a three-game suspension earned in an ugly shoving match during last seasons playoff loss to Houston -- didnt keep the Impact from putting together a dangerous attack. Montreal got off 15 shots, nine on goal and many at point-blank range, and put two of them in the net, both on textbook plays. "We probably could have had another two goals if we had just been sharper," Wenger said. "Marcos a fantastic player and a large part of our offence, but a lot of guys stepped up tonight and helped create opportunities. If we continue that the entire season, well be lethal." Montreal had a huge early chance when rookie Eric Miller, in his MLS debut fired toward a seemingly open net off a third-minute corner kick. FC Dallas defender Jair Benitez slipped into the goal and blocked the ball off the line, then helped Seitz stop Hassoun Camaras follow shot on the rebound. But seven minutes later, the Impact broke through for as 1-0 lead, as midfielder Justin Mapp weaved through three defender before threading a perfect cross to the foot of Nyassi, who tapped it into the corner of the net. It took Dallas only two minutes to tie it, with Fabian Castillo collecting a deflected ball in close and drilling it past keeper Troy Perkins. "It was a little bit of frustration, but you have to grow from that," Camara said. "When you allow three goals, youre never happy. We have to be more intelligent. "But at the same time, its very easy to correct that. We can do much better." ' ' '