TAX FRAUD: Messi’s 21-month jail term to stand

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was convicted alongside his father, Jorge Messi who manages his finances, of defrauding Spain in taxes worth over €4m in 2016 by a court in Barcelona.

A 21-month jail term and a fine of €2m was handed down to the Argentinian superstar, which after he applealed, has now been upheld by Spain’s Supreme Court.

He is however unlikely to serve behind bars since he has no prior convictions.

Messi, whose fine was reduced to €1.3m, had denied any involvement in the fraud and told his trial in June 2016: “I only worried about playing football.”

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But in its decision on Wednesday, the court said: “It defies logic to concede that someone who earns a large income does not know that he must pay taxes on it.”

The tribunal ruled that the 29-year-old knew his obligations and knowingly defrauded the government, stating that “avoidable ignorance” does not exclude him from responsibility.

Meanwhile, Messi’s father’s jail term was reduced from 21 months to 15 by the Supreme Court due to his cooperation in the case, and his fine reduced by €400,000.

 

 

 

 

 

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