SuperSheep Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his father are being investigated in Spain for allegedly defrauding the state of more than 4m euros (£3.4m). The 25-year-old Argentina forward and his father, Jorge Horacio, are suspected of filing fraudulent tax returns for 2007-09, officials say. The World Player of the Year denied the allegation. His net annual salary at Barcelona is said to be 16m euros, making him one of the world's highest-paid athletes. He has also signed a number of multimillion-dollar endorsements with major sponsors around the globe. On Wednesday, a complaint signed by prosecutor Raquel Amado was filed at the courthouse in Gava - the affluent Barcelona district where Messi lives. Judges at the courthouse must accept the complaint before the suspects can be charged, reports say. Messi and his father are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use the footballer's image. The accusation is that by using companies based outside Spain, where he lives and plays club football, Messi and his father avoided paying more than 4m euros in tax. If convicted, Messi could face up to six years in prison and a large fine, according to Spain's EFE news agency. Responding to the allegation, Messi expressed surprise at Wednesday's development. He wrote on his Facebook page: "We have never committed any infringement. We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advices of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation." The investigation comes as the Spanish authorities step up their efforts to clamp down on tax fraud, as the government tries to balance its budget during a continuing economic crisis, the BBC's Tom Burridge in Madrid reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSheep Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22877408 BBC btw.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester Ram Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Maradonna-esque fall from glory coming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
networker1884 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 The title of this thread is soaked in sheer drama. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSheep Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 I hope not. Ronaldo's a **** and I don't want him to be no.1 in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSheep Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 The title of this thread is soaked in sheer drama.I write for the sun. Sshhhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smyth_18 Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Seems like a case of jealousy and the media wanting to bring him down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyram Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Mmmm, not sure anyone could really be that greedy when he earns as much as he does, it doesn't make sense to me. He has it all, why risk it? Can't really say I'm convinced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duracell Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 The title of this thread is soaked in sheer drama. I disagree, so I've added some more to the title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McRamFan Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Do the crime, do the time. I expect there may be others that will be hunted down by Spain's tax collectors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSheep Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 I disagree, so I've added some more to the title.well it was a news report, now it looks like something that belongs to a Cosmo or vogue magazine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duracell Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Messi playing in La Liga is probably worth more to the Spanish economy than the money he's allegedly kept from Señor Taxman. But obviously this is serious stuff. With my mod hat on, can we please remember these are only alleged allegations, so be careful what you say, Messi's gonna be having his lawyers checking all the forums from the Championship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duracell Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 well it was a news report, now it looks like something that belongs to a Cosmo or vogue magazine... Cosmo and Vogue do news too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSheep Posted June 12, 2013 Author Share Posted June 12, 2013 Now its a "mila kunis wardrobe malfunction, cor! Blimey!" Type of thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duracell Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Now its a "mila kunis wardrobe malfunction, cor! Blimey!" Type of thread. If she has then I think the interest in your thread will increase dramatically, providing pictures may be supplied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bris Vegas Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I just read this.. Doesn't really make alot of sense.. Unless his accountants have done something dodgy.. Afterall I'm pretty sure everyone is well connected in what he earns. And I'm pretty sure Messi doesn't sit around doing the paperwork and trying to fiddle the accounts.. He's a genius but he's not that good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boycie Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Bris, it was all his cats fault. It's friends with Rosey the dog on twitter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bris Vegas Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Bris, it was all his cats fault. It's friends with Rosey the dog on twitter. Well that makes sense then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CumbrianRam Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 If true it will be settled out of court alas Valentino Rossi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 If true and he was sent down can you imagine the footwork in the shower when he drops the soap? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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