Just four days after lifting the
Champions League trophy , Barcelona
star Lionel Messi has learned that he will
have to stand trial for alleged tax fraud.
On Wednesday, a Spanish high court
rejected an appeal from the four-time
world player of the year that he should
be granted impunity for being unaware
of how his finances were being
managed.
The 27-year-old and his father Jorge
Messi face allegations of withholding 4.1
million euros ($4.6 million) from the
Spanish tax authorities between 2007
and 2009. In Sept. 2013, the pair
appeared in court in the Catalan town of
Gava, where it was ruled that Lionel
Messi should face trial over allegedly
benefiting from setting up a network of
companies in Belize and Uruguay to sell
image rights and avoid tax, whether or
not he was aware of it. While that
decision was appealed, it has now been
rejected, meaning arguably the greatest
soccer player of all time, at the peak of
his powers, will be going to trial.
Although a spell in jail is a possibility, it
is believed to be highly unlikely. Reports
suggest that Messi could face a one-year
suspended jail sentence and a fine of up
to 21 million euros ($23.7 million) if
found guilty.
Messi’s defense team has long argued
that the forward had “never devoted a
minute of his life to reading, studying or
analyzing” the contracts, reports Spain’s
El Pais newspaper. Yet judges have
stated that, while the scheme allegedly
began when he was a minor, Messi
ratified the contracts when he turned 18
and was also listed as the sole
administrator of one of the companies.
The Spanish authorities have pursued the
case despite Messi paying 5 million euros
($5.7 million) to cover the money owed
plus interest. That has led to accusations
from Messi’s camp that he has been
unfairly targeted by the Madrid-based
central tax office. Indeed, it has been
portrayed in some quarters as a further
example of unfair treatment against the
region of Catalonia.
“There are other elite athletes who are in
the same situation, have had tax
problems and they’ve all been settled
administratively,” sources close to Messi
told Spanish publication El Confidencial
last November . “For example that was
the case with [then Real Madrid players]
Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso and
[tennis star] Rafa Nadal.
“Messi is the only one who faces legal
proceedings that could land him in jail.”
At the time, there was even a threat that
Messi could leave Barcelona and Spain
because of the perceived persecution.
The initial legal problems coincided with
Messi enduring a dip in performances
on the pitch, but he has returned to his
sparkling best over the past few months.
The Argentinean finished the season
with 58 goals, helping Barcelona to win
a treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and
Champions League titles. Messi is
currently preparing to lead Argentina at
the Copa America in Chile. Read more......
http://www.ibtimes.com/lionel-messi-news-could-barcelona-star-face-jail-time-over-alleged-tax-fraud-1961020
