June 4 – Spanish tax authorities have re-opened the Neymar tax case by claiming Barcelona have evaded a payment of €9.2 million in the signing of Brazilian World Cup superstar.
The club and their former president Sandro Rosell have been called by a judge to provide more details on June 13.
They will be asked to “quantify the amount withheld by FC Barcelona for the income payable in relation to the professional athlete Neymar Da Silva Santos for Income Tax of Non-Residents (IRNR) and (regular) income tax”, according to a court order.
The non-payment allegation refers to €2.4 million for 2011, €6.7 million for 2013, and the possibility of a further €2.6 million for 2014.
In February Barca paid €13.5 million after originally being charged with tax fraud over the much-publicised signing of Neymar which partly led to the resignation Rosell. The club, who have just endured one of their weakest recent seasons by their own high standards, insisted, however, they had not committed any tax offence and that the payment had been made due to a “possible difference of interpretation” about the amount they owed after signing Neymar from Santos last summer.
Rosell, who has denied any wrongdoing, stepped down, saying he wanted to protect the club’s image as well as his family. After his exit, Barca admitted Neymar had cost €86.2 million, including payments to the player and his family, and not €57.1 million as they had originally reported.
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