Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi can pay extra fine to avoid prison for tax fraud

Barcelona star Lionel Messi and his father can avoid prison for tax fraud by paying an extra fine, a Spanish court has said.

Key points:

• Messi will pay a total of $3.378 million and avoid 21-month prison term
• Last year Messi and his father found guilty of defrauding tax authorities of $6.15 million
• Messi has won five Ballon d’Or awards for world’s best male footballer

Instead of Messi serving his 21-month sentence, the Argentina forward will be fined an extra $378,000.

The Barcelona-based court also ruled that Messi’s father, Jorge Horacio Messi, will be fined an extra $270,000 instead of serving his 15-month sentence.

The ruling was widely expected in Spain, where prison sentences under 24 months for first-time offenders can be waived by a judge.

Last year, a court found Messi and his father each guilty of three counts of defrauding tax authorities of $6.15 million from 2007-09.

The unpaid taxes were from money made through endorsement deals, not Messi’s salary paid by Barcelona.

Source: Court declares Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi can pay extra fine to avoid prison for tax fraud – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)