Lionel messi handed 21 months in jail

Lionel Messi handed jail term in Spain for tax fraud
6 July 2016 Europe
Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has
been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud.
His father, Jorge Messi, was also given a jail term for
defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.5m; $4.5m) between 2007
and 2009.
They also face millions of euros in fines for using tax
havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal earnings from
image rights.
However, neither man is expected to serve time in jail.
Under the Spanish system, prison terms of under two
years can be served under probation.
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The footballer and his father were found guilty of three
counts of tax fraud in Wednesday's ruling by the court in
Barcelona.
As well as the jail terms, Messi was fined about €2m and
his father €1.5m. They made a voluntary €5m "corrective
payment", equal to the alleged unpaid tax plus interest,
in August 2013.
The sentence can be appealed against via the Spanish
supreme court.
Lionel Messi's illustrious career:
Winner of Fifa Ballon d'Or as world's best footballer
on five occasions
Voted Uefa best player in Europe three times
Uefa Champions League winner with FC Barcelona on
four occasions
Spanish championship winner with FC Barcelona
eight times
Olympic gold medallist with Argentina in 2008
Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 55 goals
...and major disappointments:
June 16 2016: quits Argentine team after missing
penalty in shootout in Copa America final loss to
Chile
it was fourth major final defeat for Argentina in nine
years
other three losses: Copa America (2015) again to
Chile (again on penalties); 2014 World Cup to
Germany; Copa America (2007) against Brazil
Lionel Messi's career in photos
Messi statue unveiled in Buenos Aires
FC Barcelona's reaction
"FC Barcelona expresses its full support to Leo Messi
and his father in relation to the conviction for tax
fraud...
"The club... considers that the player, who has corrected
his position with the Spanish tax office, is in no way
criminally responsible with regards to the facts
underlined in this case."
Statement in full (in Spanish)