A 21-month prison term has been given to Lionel Messi and his father Jorge Messi after a court in Barcelona has found them guilty on three counts of tax fraud, which amounted to €4.1 million.This according to Spanish media house Marca.
As well as the prison sentence the court also ordered that the Argentine player pay a fine of around €2m and his father pay €1.5m.
It’s however unlikely that Messi and his father will be going to prison as, under Spanish law, a prison sentence under two years can be served under probation, in particular if the subject
charged has no criminal record. The statement released by the court on Wednesday also read that the decision can be appealed through the
Spanish Supreme Court.
WHAT IS MESSI ACCUSED OF?
Messi is accused of evading the payment of
income tax in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The total
amount allegedly defrauded from the Spanish
Treasury stands at €4.1 million (£3.1m). Most of
that revenue is understood to come from image
rights, with Messi partnered with a number of
major brands.
WHAT HAS THE PROSECUTION SAID?
The prosecution alleges that the player
defrauded the Tax Agency, but Messi’s asserts
that his father handles his income. Messi Sr.
says that his son “never had access to contracts and information.” He also claims “I had the contracts and said he had to sign.”
WHAT HAVE THE DEFENCE SAID?
Angel Juarez, the founder of Juarez Verciana –
the administrating company of Messi’s tax
business – says that Lionel’s father did not
spend a great deal of time in Barcelona, and also maintains that Messi did not assiduously study any documents that he signed, merely putting pen to paper before leaving the offices.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?
Should Messi be found guilty he will have to pay
the corresponding fines for tax evasion but there is understood to be zero possibility of the player facing prison time. The law states that
imprisonment of those sentenced to less than
two years should be suspended, as long as it is
the first offence committed, as in the case of
Messi.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT ARGENTINA AND
BARCELONA?
Messi has repeatedly proved able to overcome
off-field adversity on the pitch, and will hope to
do so again this summer with Argentina. The
Copa America is an important competition for
the country, as they seek to confirm their status among the best teams in the Americas. Messi is a leader on the pitch, and will hope to lead his country to victory.
In the case of Barcelona, Messi is likely to be able to focus exclusively on his football once the
court proceedings are finished, and will again
seek to win the Ballon d’Or, potentially the sixth
of his career.
Credit : Marca and Goal.com
