Lionel Messi is set to go to trial for alleged tax fraud after a Barcelona court shot down an appeal that was filed by his lawyers this week.
According to a report from El Pais, prosecutors believe there is evidence to support claims that Messi used a network of companies that were created by his father in several different countries to help the Barcelona star hide money. Messi has allegedly skipped out on the equivalent of $5.5 million in tax payments to the Spanish Tax Agency.
Messi’s legal team was seeking to argue that the 27-year-old had no knowledge of the tax evasion scheme. Messi’s father, Jorge Horacio Messi, has been accused of creating the network of companies while his son was still a minor. Both Lionel and Jorge have been charged with three counts of tax fraud committed in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Messi’s lawyers claim the Argentinean star “never devoted a minute of his life to reading, studying or analyzing” contracts related to the companies his father allegedly created. Judges countered that Messi ratified the contracts after he turned 18 and that his name appeared as the sole administrator of one of the companies.
If convicted, Messi could face up to five years in prison. That would deprive soccer fans of seeing amazing goals like this for a very long time.
H/T Sky News
