The Bad news is Messi has been convicted for Tax fraud in Spain and the Spanish court has ordered for 21 months jail for him.
But the good news is for the soccer star Lionel Messi that he won’t have to go to the jail for defrauding the Spanish tax authorities. But he has been fined $2.3 million in cash.
A Barcelona court found that between 2000 and 2009, Messi has done fraud about the tax and that for each of those three years he must serve a sentence of seven months.
However, because he is a first time offender and committed an offense first time at the same time his sentence was less than two years, the 29-year-old Messi won’t serve jail time as long as he doesn’t break the law again in future.
Messi’s father Jorge Messi was also handed a 21-month jail sentence and a $1.7 million for tax fraud, though like his son he won’t serve time as he also doesn’t have a criminal record.
After the court verdict, Barcelona official’s issued a statement “giving all its support to Leo Messi and his father.”
The statement added: “The Club, in agreement with the Government prosecution service, considers that the player, who has corrected his position with the Spanish Tax Office, is in no way criminally responsible with regards to the facts underlined in this case.
“FC Barcelona continues to be at the disposal of Leo Messi and his family to support him in whatever action he decides to take in defense of his honesty and his legal interests.”
The Argentine’s legal representatives argued their client had no knowledge of his tax affairs. The sentence also reflects that Messi has no previous criminal record and that he has already paid back the money he owes — minus $23,600, which he now has to pay.
Messi is widely regarded as the best footballer on the planet as if God of Football and is Barca’s all-time best goal scorer. During his time with the club, Messi has done wonder for the club as he has won the European Champions League on four occasions and eight Spanish league titles.
Forbes ranked Messi as the second-highest paid player on the planet, earning an estimated $81.4 million through his salary and various endorsement deals.
Messi has been sentenced to a year in prison – but he may not have to serve time https://t.co/vIBMCy8rVz
— The Independent (@Independent) July 6, 2016
Tax fraud: 21-month jail term for #LionelMessi #MessiTaxMess https://t.co/zzJM6DRZpG
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) July 6, 2016
wonder how diff our view would be if he were banker/businessman #Messi sentenced to 21 months in jail for tax fraud https://t.co/hznPEnFVt5
— tim caple (@timcaple) July 6, 2016
#Messi will avoid jail because prison terms of less than 2 years can be served on probation in Spain https://t.co/YYl5mb4DB2
— Adrienne Lawrence (@AdrienneLaw) July 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/ShantaRibery/status/750657047495110656
Lionel Messi fined $2.3 million for tax fraud, but avoids jail https://t.co/6mJo1wKI81 pic.twitter.com/r72ikfNvvJ
— CNN International (@cnni) July 6, 2016