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Barcelona's Lionel Messi celebrates
after scoring the opening goal during the final of the Copa del Rey.
Image: Manu Fernandez/Associated Press
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Lionel Messi, one of the world's most
famous athletes, is mired in legal troubles as he and his father will be tried
for €4.1 million (or US$4.6 million) tax fraud.
The
charges allege that Messi's father used companies set up in Belize and Uruguay
to sell rights to Messi's image in 2007, 2008 and 2009, allowing the player to
bypass paying income tax in Spain, where Messi plays professionally for FC
Barcelona.
Mashable reports:
The
Barcelona Provincial High Court on Wednesday turned down Messi's appeal, ruling
there was enough evidence to prove he benefitted from the alleged scheme even
if he wasn't aware of it. The presiding judge ruled: "In this type of
crime, it is not necessary for someone to have complete knowledge of all the
accounting and business operations nor the exact quantity, rather it is
sufficient to be aware of the designs to commit fraud and consent to
them."
The
four-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner (for "World Player of the Year"),
who is renowned for his exquisite ball-handling skills and highlight-reel
goals, denies any wrongdoing. The
Guardian reports that his father, Jorge Messi, made a payment of €5
million last August, covering the alleged €4.1 million plus interest.
Despite
strife off the pitch, Messi and Barça have proved to still be highly successful
on it, capturing titles this year for the Spanish La Liga, the annual Copa del
Rey and this year's Champions League.
If found guilty, both Messi and his father could face fines upwards of €21
million and a one-year suspended prison sentence.
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