Tax charges against Lionel Messi dropped

Lionel Messi’s father will still face charges

Spanish prosecutors have decided to drop all charges relating to tax fraud against Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, BBC reported.. However, the lawyers will continue to uphold the charges against his father Jorge Messi.

The case that has been ongoing for a few years now is focussed on tax evasion that Jorge Messi has purportedly been involved in between 2007 and 2009. The allegation is centred on Jorge’s reported attempts to avoid paying tax on his son’s earnings during that period. The funds were reportedly routed to Belize and Uruguay to avoid these tax payments.

The father and son duo have already voluntarily made a €5 million payment in 2013 as a “corrective” measure to offset the unpaid tax including interest. Nonetheless, the Spanish authorities have been relentless in their pursuit in this case. If the Argentine footballer’s father is convicted then he faces 18 months of jail time and additionally a €2 million fine.

Spanish Newspaper El Pais also added that the argument made by Messi’s lawyers was that the player “never devoted a minute of his life to reading, studying or analysing” the contents of his contracts. The Barcelona star’s finances were being handled largely by his father.

While the court ruled that Messi should not be granted indemnity for not knowing about his own finances, he will no longer face prosecution for the same.

Prosecutors think Messi didn't know what was going on with his tax affairs - won't pursue him for tax fraud, but are looking to jail his dad

— AS English (@English_AS) October 6, 2015

The charges are largely in relation to the player’s earnings from endorsements such as those in partnership with Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Procter and Gamble, and Kuwait Food Company.

It’s not a pleasant subject for the Messi family, they have other matters to also contend with currently including the arrest of Matias Messi recently for the second time. Lionel Messi’s brother was held for illegal gun possession in Rosario, Argentina when he got into an argument with law enforcement.

The Barcelona forward is also having problems on the field having also been ruled out for nearly 2 months with injury. During this time Barcelona also succumbed to a loss against Celta Vigo. In these bleak circumstances, this will be some good news for the Argentine but the shadow of prison still hangs over his father.

Whether the case culminates in punishment for Jorge Messi will be decided in time but for now the Spanish authorities have been merciful towards arguably the greatest footballer of the contemporary game.