Messi investigated for tax fraud in Spain

[54andcounting 0]

Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his father are being investigated in Spain for allegedly defrauding the state of more than 4m euros (£3.4m).

 

The 25-year-old Argentina forward and his father, Jorge Horacio, are suspected of filing fraudulent tax returns for 2007-09, officials say.

 

The World Player of the Year has so far made no comment on the allegation.

 

His net annual salary at Barcelona is said to be 16m euros, making him one of the world's highest-paid athletes.

 

On Wednesday, a complaint signed by prosecutor Raquel Amado was filed at the courthouse in Gava - the affluent Barcelona district where Messi lives.

 

Judges at the courthouse must accept the complaint before the suspects can be charged, reports say.

 

Messi and his father are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use the footballer's image.

 

The accusation is that by using companies based outside Spain where he lives and plays club football, Messi and his father avoided paying more than 4m euros in tax.

 

If convicted, Messi could face up to six years in prison and a large fine, according to Spain's EFE news agency.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22877408

[craig 5,199]

Obviously Messi denies any wrongdoing.

 

 

Reports have emerged alleging the four-time reigning World Player of the Year and his father, Jorge Horacio, were suspected of filing fraudulent tax returns between 2007 and 2009.

 

The 25-year-old Argentina international, currently on international duty in South America, swiftly insisted he had done nothing wrong, though, in a statement on his official Facebook page.

 

It read: "We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities.

 

"We are surprised about the news, because we have never committed any infringement.

 

"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants, who will take care of clarifying this situation."

 

Messi arrived at the Nou Camp as a 13-year-old in 2000, made his first-team debut three years later and has gone on to establish himself as one of football's best ever players.

 

He has won six Primera Division titles, three Champions League crowns and two FIFA Club World Cups with the Catalan giants, and in 2012 netted a record 86 goals for club and country.

[54andcounting 0]

Lionel Messi appears in Spanish court over tax fraud

 

Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his father have arrived at a Spanish court to face tax fraud allegations.

 

The 26-year-old Argentine, four times Fifa World Player of the Year, and his father Jorge Messi are accused of defrauding the authorities of more than 4m euros ($5.4m; £3.4m).

 

They are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use Messi's image.

 

They both deny the allegations, which date back to 2007-09.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24292849

[Super Cooper 0]

Yeah jail for the worlds best player is very likely, honest, it is.