New Delhi: Barcelona star Lionel Messi could
avoid prison for alleged tax evasion if he admits to wrongdoing and pays
a fine of £20million.
On Wednesday it was revealed the footie ace and his dad Jorge are
being investigated for an alleged £3.4million tax fraud in Spain
between 2007 and 2009.
If convicted, the Argentinian could face up to six years in jail or
be ordered to pay fines of up to six times the amount allegedly
defrauded.
Jorge is accused of being the brains behind the operation – one
which allegedly used shell companies and tax havens to hide income
relating to Messi’s image rights.
However, Messi has strongly denied doing anything wrong.
He said in a statement: “We have never committed any infringement.
We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice
of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation.”
The 25-year-old, recognised as the best player in the world, is rumoured to earn £250,000-a-week and £13MILLION in endorsements.
Tax expert José María Mollinedo said: “If the player pays and
admits his involvement, he could obtain a reduction in the minimum
punishment, because of which he would not have to go to prison.”
The Barcelona president, Sandro Rosell, yesterday defended the club’s star player.
He said: “We are with him and his family because we don’t have any doubt about his innocence.”
A spokesman for the Spanish Treasury Ministry declined to comment about the Messi case or other investigations.
A judge will decide if the case will be taken to trial.
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