FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is set to be tried in a Spanish court on tax fraud charges as he, whether knowingly or not, benefitted to the tune of €4.1 million (£3 million) between 2007 and 2009.
The four-time Champions League winner has been accused of dodging the tax authorities through the sale of his image rights in South American countries Uruguay and Belize, as well as the United Kingdom and Switzerland, through shell companies by his father, Jorge Horacio Messi.
The original tax charges against Messi were dropped on Tuesday, with just his father potentially facing charges. However, Spanish authorities have decided to re-open the case as a judge declined the request of public prosecutors to try only Messi Sr., in which they were probing for an 18-month sentence.
The contracts that have been under scrutiny are those with Banco Sabadell, Adidas, Danone, Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble, as well the Kuwait Food Company and others that he procured whilst playing for Barcelona. This, therefore, naturally falls under Spanish jurisdiction when it comes to taxes.
Once the charges had become public, Messi took steps to attempt to clear his name. These included a payment of €5 million to Spanish authorities, however, this did not shelve the will of prosecutors to seek criminal charges against the four-time World Player of the Year.
Lionel Messi is the fourth richest sportsman in the world, according to Forbes magazine, as he rakes in a colossal $67.4 million each year. Messi previously pointed the finger in the original hearing at a former agent who he believes was responsible for the tax fraud.
If found guilty, the Argentina international would, under state law, receive a sentence of 22.5 months imprisonment, with the hearing taking place in Vilanova i la Geltrú near Barcelona.
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