The 26-year-old Argentine, who has been
named World Player of the Year four
times, and his father Jorge Messi are
accused of defrauding the authorities of
more than 4m euros (£3.4m).
Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his
father are to appear in a Spanish court
over tax fraud allegations.
The 26-year-old Argentine, who has been
named World Player of the Year four
times, and his father Jorge Messi are
accused of defrauding the authorities of
more than 4m euros (£3.4m).
They are suspected of using companies
abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell
the rights to use Messi's image.
They both deny the allegations, which
date back to 2007-09.
'Tougher line'
The striker and his father are expected to
be questioned in a closed-court session in
Gava - the affluent Barcelona district
where the footballer lives.
They are accused of three counts of
defrauding the Spanish state of taxes.
The income related to Messi's image
rights included contracts with Banco
Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola,
Proctor and Gamble, and the Kuwait Food
Company.
In August, the two accused made a
payment of 5m euros to the tax
authorities - the 4.16m of the alleged
unpaid tax plus interest.
But state prosecutors are still pursuing
the case - as the tax authorities are taking
a much tougher line as a result of Spain's
economic crisis, reports the BBC's Tom
Burridge in Madrid.
Earlier, Messi stated that he and and his
father "have never committed any
infringement. We have always fulfilled all
our tax obligations."
Messi's net salary from Barcelona is said
to be about 16m euros a year, making
him one of the world's most highly-paid
sportspeople.
He has also signed multi-million-dollar
endorsements with commercial sponsors
around the world.
Messi's achievements on the field have
made him one of the most marketable in
the business.
He came from a modest background and
has overcome a serious health issue,
joining Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000
and making his first-team debut only
three years later.
But the allegations are a big blow to the
prestige of Messi, who has long been
seen as a more humble figure than most
top-class footballers.
named World Player of the Year four
times, and his father Jorge Messi are
accused of defrauding the authorities of
more than 4m euros (£3.4m).
Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his
father are to appear in a Spanish court
over tax fraud allegations.
The 26-year-old Argentine, who has been
named World Player of the Year four
times, and his father Jorge Messi are
accused of defrauding the authorities of
more than 4m euros (£3.4m).
They are suspected of using companies
abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell
the rights to use Messi's image.
They both deny the allegations, which
date back to 2007-09.
'Tougher line'
The striker and his father are expected to
be questioned in a closed-court session in
Gava - the affluent Barcelona district
where the footballer lives.
They are accused of three counts of
defrauding the Spanish state of taxes.
The income related to Messi's image
rights included contracts with Banco
Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola,
Proctor and Gamble, and the Kuwait Food
Company.
In August, the two accused made a
payment of 5m euros to the tax
authorities - the 4.16m of the alleged
unpaid tax plus interest.
But state prosecutors are still pursuing
the case - as the tax authorities are taking
a much tougher line as a result of Spain's
economic crisis, reports the BBC's Tom
Burridge in Madrid.
Earlier, Messi stated that he and and his
father "have never committed any
infringement. We have always fulfilled all
our tax obligations."
Messi's net salary from Barcelona is said
to be about 16m euros a year, making
him one of the world's most highly-paid
sportspeople.
He has also signed multi-million-dollar
endorsements with commercial sponsors
around the world.
Messi's achievements on the field have
made him one of the most marketable in
the business.
He came from a modest background and
has overcome a serious health issue,
joining Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000
and making his first-team debut only
three years later.
But the allegations are a big blow to the
prestige of Messi, who has long been
seen as a more humble figure than most
top-class footballers.
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