It has emerged that Lionel Messi, Barcelona and Argentina star, is to be investigated in Spain for Tax evasion.
Lionel Messi
The 4-time Ballon D’Or winner has had a complaint filed against him by the Spanish Financial Crimes Prosecutors. The case, investigating possible tax fraud of up to €4 million also implicates the players father. According to an anonymous judiciary source in Spain, the case was filed in the district courthouse in Gava, the area of Barcelona where the Argentinian captain lives and relates to income tax returns from 2007-2009. The source also stressed that the lawsuit has only as of yet been presented and may or may not yet make it to court.
The player himself responded this morning through his official Facebook page and was surprised at the allegations being brought against him.
“We are surprised about (sic) those news, because we have never committed any infringement. We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advices of our Tax Consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation.”
If this case makes it to court and Messi is found to be guilty he could potentially face up to 6 years in prison under Spanish law. However, a judge at the courthouse must first accept the prosecutors case if proceedings are to begin.
A product of Barcelona’s famous youth academy, La Masia, the current World Player of the Year has scored 215 goals in 246 first team league appearances for the club and in 2012 broke Gerd Muller’s record of most goals scored in a calendar year with 86.
Related articles
- Football star Lionel Messi accused of €4m tax fraud (thetimes.co.uk)
- Lionel Messi Accused Of Tax Fraud In Spain (news.sky.com)
- Lionel Messi denies tax fraud to 46.5m fans on Facebook (siliconrepublic.com)
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