Lionel Messi will not face court for tax fraud in Spain – but his father will.
Spanish prosecutors have dropped all charges against Barcelona star Messi after further investigating claims that he and his father defrauded Spanish authorities of more than €4 million (£3.1 million).
Messi will no longer face charges after it was ruled that he wasn't in the loop with regards to his financial management, which is controlled by his father, Jorge.
It's alleged that Jorge used offshore banks in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying tax on Messi's earnings between 2007 and 2009. If found guilty, he faces 18 months in prison and a €2 million fine.
The figure owed has been decided after prosecutors analysed Lionel Messi's sponsorship deals with companies including adidas, Danone and Pepsi.
[via BBC News]
