Samuel Eto'o Fil'es

A Spanish public prosecutor has accused Cameroun’s striker Samuel Eto’o of conspiring to evade 3.5 million euros ($4.4 million) in taxes owed on income from his image rights when he was playing for Barcelona between 2006 and 2009.

The Barca and Inter Milan former player, now with Russian Premier League club, Anzhi Makhachkala, is accused of four tax offences, each punishable with up to five years in prison and a fine of as much as 21 million euros.

The case presented by the prosecutor on June 15 at a Barcelona court, and which was seen by Reuters yesterday, asked a judge to open proceedings against the player before the statute of limitations on one of the alleged offences expires tomorrow.

Spain recently launched a drive against tax evasion as it struggles to meet tough European deficit reduction targets that have meant budget cuts for hospitals and schools. Eto’o allegedly created two companies, one in Hungary and another in Spain, and used them to channel income obtained from ceding his image rights to Barca and sportswear maker, Puma, the prosecutor said.

The Hungarian company paid one of the lowest corporate tax rates in Europe - 10 per cent to 19 per cent - while the Spanish company paid a reduced corporate tax rate of 30 per cent to 35 per cent, instead of the 45 per cent income tax rate, the charge said.

Eto’o also allegedly used the Spanish company to deduct personal expenses, such as payments for his mortgages, furniture and expenses related to his luxury cars, the complaint added. Eto’o and his club could not immediately be reached for comment.

The prosecutor also accused Eto’o’s former agent, Jose Maria Mesalles, and the manager of the Spanish company, Manuel de Jesus Lastre, of the same tax offences. Eto’o filed a lawsuit against Mesalles at a Barcelona court last year, accusing him of betraying his trust and of embezzling money, local media said.

waja: Like what they deed to Mike Tyson, they want to reduce his wealth. Racism still on high.

waja: Like what they deed to Mike Tyson, they want to reduce his wealth. Racism still on high.

aweaweawe: i don't knw why they hate black so much.those son of a bitch.

Detongue: Dis oyibo ppl will never allow a black man to succeed

uihebom: When its a black man, ohh Oyinbo will make sure they drag him down. But when a white man is accused of tax invasion,they won't mind. they will find a possible way to make him a free man. Example Harry redknapp tax invasion later a free man.

Skmoda-360:
sometimes if i'm reading all this news i feel like hating white people.........

waja: Like what they deed to Mike Tyson, they want to reduce his wealth. Racism still on high.

bisiaet: This people has started again. White man with bad belle against black man is very appauling. The moment any blck man want to make a difference then from just a blue moon a masterminded case will generate from nowhere.

All is about hatred and racism that is all. If they do not use woman they will say tax invader or abuse case by all means something must be cooked up. People who has not live in the West may not understand what i'm saying but for those who has lived and still living among this so called white will understand me well.

God will save Eto'o let him just be strong and be courageous all they want from him is to cripple him financially and to demoralised him. God will help him.

otumfour:


^^^ this fo0l is prolly more tribalistic than any other.... why do nigerians always find excuses for bad deeds? if this were a white man....y'all wudn't be screaming rasism now wud u

wit a generation like this, ur future really looks HOPELESS

Sagamite:

A bloody generation of bloody cretins!

Nairaland has opened my eyes.

uihebom: When its a black man, ohh Oyinbo will make sure they drag him down. But when a white man is accused of tax invasion,they won't mind. they will find a possible way to make him a free man. Example Harry redknapp tax invasion later a free man.

ebamma: so dem wan tell us that the only footballer were evade tax na eto'o or dis is all about him being a popular black player.

ziddy: A whopping 45 per cent of his income. That's crazy

Skmoda-360:
sometimes if i'm reading all this news i feel like hating white people.........

Sagamite:

A bloody generation of bloody cretins!

Nairaland has opened my eyes.

hacklilc:

Dude why are you after insulting guys on here ?. You educated them not insulting them. How would they learn if you continue to insult them?

hacklilc:

Dude why are you after insulting guys on here ?. You educated them not insulting them. How would they learn if you continue to insult them?

lagerwhenindoubt:

Why not - you cannot do any more harm than they are already doing to themselves. - y'see the worst kind of insult you will ever find in this world is when a complete r.etard presumes to know more than his obviously better-informed peers (for lack of a more appropriate word). It is this kind of growing phenomena we see in Nigeria when bona-fide buffoons somehow get into positions of governance in Nigeria. It is personified idio.ts the likes you see on this thread that establish the very breeding grounds for brainless tadpoles who somehow chance on the Internet and feel in their miniscule capacity as low-life zombies, they can contribute their quota of dead spermatozoa into the progress of Humanity - sadly they do not have the capacity to learn, it is beyond them to learn when they have reached the limits of their reasoning abilities. Insult is the only remedy - you cannot cure them of their stupidiity (sadly)

Sagamite:

So fcking well-said!

Some people cannot think laterally and see the big picture of Nigerians problems and future problems.

We have millions of graduates who have not meet the basic threshold of analytical reasoning.

Herosenior: r u sure u graduated at all?bcs in principle of approach,coutsy demands manner!nd once u d advicer fails 2 abide wt dat U become a dirctor in d ministry of ignorant,gv ur opunion critises other view wt advice nd not bn rude....Remember ducation Never EnDs.