Barcelona have issued a statement in support of Lionel Messi after the Argentinian forward and his father, Jorge, were ordered to appear in court on charges of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of more than €4m (£3m).
Spain’s public prosecutor has recommended a jail sentence totalling 18 months and fines of more than €2m for Jorge Messi for allegedly defrauding the state of €4.2m during the years 2007-09.
Although the prosecutor has argued Lionel Messi should not have to answer the charges as his father oversaw his finances, a court document published on Thursday showed the judge in the case had ruled he must still appear as a defendant and the forward could face up to 22 months in jail if found guilty.
Barcelona said: “After the announcement that the state attorney intends to accuse Lionel Messi of three cases of tax fraud between 2007 and 2009, demanding a 22-month jail sentence, FC Barcelona declares the following:
1. The club expresses its surprise at the difference in criteria between the public prosecutors, which on 25 September decided not to accuse Lionel Messi of tax fraud, and the verdict expressed by the state attorney, which states the complete opposite.
2. FC Barcelona has expressed its affection and solidarity to Leo Messi and his family in such a peculiar situation. The club shall continue to offer him and his family its full support and assistance in the legal, fiscal and administrative aspects of these proceedings.
3. FC Barcelona decries the accumulation of totally inadmissible and external decisions that have been going on for some time, and that have nothing to with strictly sporting affairs. They are damaging to the good operations of the club, its stability and also that of the athletes that form part of it. The club shall be working with more determination than ever to defend its legitimate rights and is ready for any new challenges that might arise.”
The 28-year-old currently has a knee injury which is keeping him out of World Cup qualifiers for Argentina and domestic and European matches with Barcelona.
Lionel Messi Management also claimed the state was in conflict with the country’s public prosecutors. “The public prosecution office did not accuse the Argentinian of any tax crime but rather extensively explained the reasons why he should not be charged,” their statement read. “The state legal service is contradicting the public prosecution office’s request and judgment.
“In the coming weeks, Leo Messi’s defence lawyers will have the opportunity to make their case ahead of the trial and to submit the evidence that they deem appropriate, corroborating that the public prosecution office’s position about not charging Messi is correct.”
Messi and his father paid €5m to the tax authorities as a “corrective payment” after they were formally charged in June 2013. The player has been resident in Barcelona since 2000 and gained Spanish citizenship in 2005.
