Messi facing a prison sentence

Messi facing a prison sentence

The world's best player Lionel Messi, the favourite to be crowned in December, is facing three charges of tax fraud according to court documents released on Thursday.

There is no date yet set for a trial that the public prosecutor didn't want Lionel Messi to stand, but the judge refused and ruled the charges will go ahead. The public prosecutor wanted to prosecute Jorge Messi (Messi's father) only because he was the one responsible for his son's financial affairs. The state attorney argued that both should go on trial and face 1 year 10 month and 15 days prison sentences.

Lionel Messi and his father are accused of defrauding the tax authorities of £2.03-million (US$4.4m - AUS$6.17m - 3.99m) between 2007 and 2009 despite Jorge Messi paying (US$5.6m - AUS$7.68m - €3.64m) in 2013 to cover the cost plus interest.

There had been an earlier appeal to drop Lionel Messi from the case which was refused with the judge deciding he must have known or even authorised the use of shell companies to hide income from the tax authorities.

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