Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi sentenced to 21 months jail for tax evasion. Story still developing. Just heard this breaking news on BBC.

Messi Fined £1.7m And Sentenced To Jail Term

Barcelona football star Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison over a tax fraud case in Spain.

However, the striker - generally considered the best in the world currently - is unlikely to face any time in jail as a term of under two years in duration, for a non-violent offence, usually results in a period of probation under Spanish law.

The court in Barcelona found the Argentina player and his father, who handles his financial affairs, guilty of three offences.

Jorge Messi was also handed a 21-month prison term and fine of €1.7m (£1.4m).

His son, who is understood to earn £26m in annual salary under his current club contract alone and is said to be worth at least £240m, was told to pay €2m (£1.7m).

Play video "Lionel Messi Arrives At Court"

Video: Lionel Messi Arrives At Court
Both men have the right to take their sentences to appeal.

They were accused of using tax havens in Uruguay and Belize to hide more than £3m in earnings from image rights from the Spanish tax authorities.

The 29-year old footballer told his trial he knew nothing of how his money was managed and admitted signing documents without reading them.

He told the court last month: "The truth is no, the truth is no, I didn't know.

"As my dad explained earlier I just dedicated myself to playing football, I put my trust in my father, in the lawyers who had decided to manage this thing."

Messi's lawyers said he never examined a series of contracts between 2007 and 2009 which dealt with the income from image rights with companies including Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Danone, Procter and Gamble, Banco Sabadell and the Kuwait Food Company.

He made a voluntary payment of £3.8m in August 2013 to cover unpaid tax and interest.

Messi - who has been voted World Player of the Year five times - confirmed his international retirement in the run-up to the verdict after Argentina crashed to a defeat against Chile in the final of the Copa America

http://news.sky.com/story/1722422/messi-fined-1-7m-and-sentenced-to-jail-term

Oh my God.

All cause he had a bad management. Never mix business with family.

I'm sure he will just do probation and pay fines, he should kick his father out of his management biko.

Today is Sallah o, its a joke right ?

If true, then Wales will beat Portugal tonight.

Messi logba ewon...ko jo rara

I ha hear...

He's very lucky.


He could have got six years. Do you know what that means? All sponsorship deals cancelled. Barcelona will have no choice but to terminate his contract. This would have been a perfect example of Grace to Grass, in fact, brown grass!


He's lucky!


Well, this just shows that nobody is above the law. And I commend the Spanish authorities for this. It's a K-leg judgement, tho.

However, under Spanish law a prison sentence under two years can be served under probation, meaning Messi and his father are unlikely to go to jail.

Messi won't be jailed, they may jail his father!

This thread will eventually degenerate into messi-ronaldo issue!

Messi in a Mess

Then never born Spain well . Make them try jail am Na.

Oh lord of messi, please be messiful on our dear messi who is messilessly in a mess.

God please Dont let his prime competitor rejoice over him.

Please dedicate one LIKE each to show solidarity

ok.
Even the judge like messi. what stopped them from adding one more month.Although if It's Africa we won't Even hear About the case.Am I wrong?

Wwwaaooo!Ronaldo: It hurts me to see Messi in tears
“[Messi] is not used to defeats and disappointments, not even to finishing second,” Ronaldo said. “To miss a penalty does not make you a bad person

This news has been around the corner since Na, messi no fit go jail jor

Naso

too bad

Too bad but he went do time in Jane Anyway...

Aviero:
He's very lucky.


[s]He could have got six years. Do you know what that means? All sponsorship deals cancelled. Barcelona will have no choice but to terminate his contract. This would have been a perfect example of Grace to Grass, in fact, brown grass![/s]


He's lucky!


[s]Well, this just shows that nobody is above the law. And I commend the Spanish authorities for this. It's a K-leg judgement, tho.[/s]

You guys wanted to send him to prison so you can win the league right?..ntoor.

1league title in 8years....Loading..

Aviero:
He's very lucky.


He could have got six years. Do you know what that means? All sponsorship deals cancelled. Barcelona will have no choice but to terminate his contract. This would have been a perfect example of Grace to Grass, in fact, brown grass!


He's lucky!


Well, this just shows that nobody is above the law. And I commend the Spanish authorities for this. It's a K-leg judgement, tho.

Na real K leg judgment

[size=15pt]He won't serve a second in prison. Just a probation. [/size]

I see

Meant he wont do any time in Jail...

Wetin concern agbero with overload, messi's , Barcelona's and Argentina's issue.

You lose the 2014 world cup final, you lose the 2016 Copa American cup final, you quit the national team and now you are indicted for tax fraud and would spend months in jail. Very sad turn of events. The man who was supposed to be a national Hero for Agentina and maybe dethrone Maradona is going down the drains.

No Mercy for Messi.

This judgement is standing on one leg

The Court of Barcelona has sentenced this morning to Leo Messi and his father, Jorge, for three crimes against the Treasury. Both must meet 21 months in prison, but not enter it to be a less than two years sentence for tax fraud defrauding 4.1 million euros in 2007, 2008 and 2009 from image rights astro futbolístico.La sentence for Leo Messi is threshed as follows: seven months in jail and a fine of 532,313.31 euros for fraud in relation to income tax for the year 2007; seven months in prison and a fine of 792,300.54 euros for fraud in relation to income tax for the year 2008 and seven months and a fine of 768,387.70 euros for fraud in relation to income tax for the year 2009. For its part, the father, Jorge Messi, must meet the following sentence: for the crime of fraud in relation to income tax for the year 2007, seven months imprisonment and a fine of 532,313.31 euros; for the crime of fraud in relation to income tax for the year 2008, seven months in prison and a fine of 532,313.31 euros and the crime of fraud in relation to income tax for the year 2009, seven months in prison and a fine of 532,313 31 euros. The sentence, which is not firm, can be appealed to the Supreme Court. At the time, the Messi paid five million euros and began to date in the tax credit. In the trial held in early June, 10 of Barcelona appeared in court with serious mien, full beard and suit. In his statement, the five-time Golden Ball said: "I spent playing football, I trusted my dad and I had no idea of ​​anything." The footballer said he signed what his father told him he did not expect anyone could deceive him.