But the former Juventus and Portsmouth forward's stepfather had not been in the United Kingdom since 2003.
Judge Francis Gilbert said that a custodial sentence was neccesary, as a fine would have little impact on a player who earned £190,000 a year.
"You cannot buy yourself out of the consequences," he said.
"I recard doing an act intending to pervert the course of justive as serious, you were looking to escape - it was a deliberate plan of dishonesty."