Barcelona’s court has found Messi and his father guilty of tax fraud for avoiding paying taxes on 4.16 million euros ($6.13 million) of the soccer star’s 2007-09 income earned from his image rights.
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“The only thing I can tell him (Messi) is that from La Liga we believe he isn’t guilty and that he should stay in Spanish football”.
FC Barcelona has set up a campaign in support of Leo Messi following the sentence issued this week against the Argentinian and his father. In addition, Messi’s father Jorge – who was also convicted in the fraud case – met privately with Chelsea billionaire-owner Roman Abramovich.
Under Spanish law, sentences under two years are usually suspended but, nonetheless, Barca have called on supporters to voice their “unconditional support on social networks”.
After the ruling, Barcelona pledged their support to the prolific forward, and now they are encouraging fans to do the same by using the hashtag #WeAreAllLeoMessi on social media.
Messi has always denied any knowledge of his tax affairs, saying he concentrated on football, while his father has claimed he left it all up to financial advisers.
A record five-time victor of the Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player, Messi is facing the most hard moment in his glorious career.
Argentines have called on him to reverse his retirement from worldwide football, a decision he took after his country’s loss on penalties to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final in the United States on June 26.
A multiple trophy victor with Barcelona, the 29-year-old Messi had been part of four final defeats with the national team, three in the Copa America and at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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Yesterday, National Court judge José de la Mata shelved the complaint brought against Neymar, his father, and Barcelona by Brazilian investment group DIS.
