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Messi to appeal 21-month prison sentence

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Messi to miss Venezuela match, scores on Argentina return

Barcelona striker Lionel Messi and his father Jorge will appeal against the 21-month prison sentences for tax fraud imposed on them by a Catalan court.

Messi’s management company said on Wednesday night that the pair would take appeals to the supreme court, even though neither man is likely to serve any time in prison.

Under Spanish law, sentences under two years are usually suspended.

A statement from lawyers representing the pair described the sentences as “incorrect.”

The long-running case relates to a scheme to avoid paying £3.4m of tax on Lionel Messi’s image rights.

The disputed tax payments date back to a period from 2007 to 2009, a time when Argentinian player Messi, now 29, helped to transform Barca into the world’s best team.

He has now, however, been fined £1.7m for three counts of tax fraud while his father has been given a £1.3m fine.

Lionel Messi has always denied any knowledge of his tax affairs, saying he concentrated on football, while his father has claimed he left it all up to financial advisers.

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