Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was charged for tax fraud in June 2013 for failing to pay over €4 million ($5.37 million). The Spanish court recently denied a prosecutor's request to drop the charges him.
Lionel was accused for tax evasion together with his father, Jorge Horacio Messi. The two failed to file tax returns for three years, from 2006 to 2009. In August 2009, Jorge Messi paid over €5 million ($6.7 million) for the unpaid taxes including interest.
In a report by ABC News, the judge stated that there was sufficient evidence to show that the soccer star had knowledge and may have consented to the establishment of a fictitious corporate entity with the intent to evade taxes on income derived from his image rights. The court statement was given in Gava, Barcelona. The case was initiated by prosecutors to determine if there was truly a reason to go after the Messis. In June 2014, one prosecutor agreed to drop the tax fraud charge against them.
On July 28, 2014, there was a statement that Lionel Messi did not need to have full knowledge of all accounting or corporate transactions or the specific amount of the fraud to render him guilty of having intent to defraud.
According to Sports Illustrated, in June 2014, Spanish prosecutors requested the Spanish court to drop the charges against the Golden Boot awardee, saying that Lionel's father was solely responsible for the family finances. The judge, however, rejected their request, saying that three cases of suspected unpaid taxes will be allowed to proceed against both Lionel and Jorge.
As soon as the judge determines the merits of the case, he will forward his decision to the Tax Office as well as the office of the State Prosecutor within 10 days to either dismiss or make a strong case against the two men. If a case ensues, Lionel Messi will have to appear in court to defend himself against the charge. If the two men are found guilty, they may pay a fine worth 150 percent of their earnings for the years they failed to pay taxes in addition to prison time spanning anywhere between two and six years.
Lionel currently plays for Barcelona and recently won the Golden Boot at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Spain has been more active in filing tax evasion complaints in its quest to improve the country's financial status. Cristobal Montoro, Finance Minister of Spain cautioned soccer players that they should manage their tax affairs better.
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