October 12 – Barcelona are standing behind their mercurial superstar Lionel Messi in his fight against being punished for alleged tax fraud.
Last week a Spanish court ordered Messi and his father Jorge, who are accused of defrauding the authorities of more than €4 million from 2007 to 2009, to stand trial with the state attorney suggesting the Argentine striker, like his father, should serve a jail sentence of up to 22 months if found guilty.
It is alleged that Jorge avoided paying tax on his son’s earnings by using offshore companies in Belize and Uruguay in 2007-09. No trial date has yet been announced but Barca noted the state attorney’s stance was “the complete opposite” to that of Spain’s public prosecutor, who had previously said the player himself should not have to answer the charges since his father oversaw his finances.
“The club expresses its surprise at the difference in criteria between the public prosecutors, which on 25 September decided not to accuse Lionel Messi of tax fraud, and the verdict expressed by the state attorney, which states the complete opposite,” said Barca in a statement.
“FC Barcelona has expressed its affection and solidarity to Leo Messi and his family in such a peculiar situation. The club shall continue to offer him and his family its full support and assistance in the legal, fiscal and administrative aspects of these proceedings.
“FC Barcelona condemns the accumulation of totally inadmissible and external decisions that have been going on for some time, and that have nothing to with strictly sporting affairs. They are damaging to the smooth running of the club, its stability and that of the players that form part of it.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735093167labto1735093167ofdlr1735093167owedi1735093167sni@w1735093167ahsra1735093167w.wer1735093167dna1735093167