Lionel Messi cleared of tax fraud
Football
By
Mirror
| Oct 06, 2015
Prosecutors in Spain have dropped charges against Barcelona star Lionel Messi - but are still pursuing their case against his father Jorge.
The Argentina forward and his father were accused of defrauding Spanish authorities to the tune of £3.1million. If found guilty, Messi senior could face 18 months in prison, and a fine of almost £1.5million.
Prosecutors have alleged that Jorge used offshore companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying tax on his son's earnings between 2007 and 2009.
But authorities say Leo no longer has any charges to answer.
READ MORE
vivo V30 5G launching in Kenya: Step into the future with style
How Kenya's ICT Accessibility Standards can create more inclusive workplaces
Unlocking photographic brilliance: Vivo V29 5G series with its smart aura light portrait
"It is not plausible to think that his unawareness of events was intentional, or carried out seeking to defraud the Public Treasury," the ruling explained.
In June, the high court in Barcelona ruled Messi should not be granted impunity for not knowing how his finances were being used, but he will now no longer face charges.
Messi and his father made a 'corrective' payment of €5million in August 2013, equal to the sum in unpaid tax plus interest.
The income relates to Messi's image rights, which include deals with companies such as Adidas and Pepsi.