Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Lionel Messi maintains innocence in tax case, Barcelona give 'full support'

Lionel Messi has maintained his innocence in the wake of Spanish prosecutors calling for him and father Jorge to be tried on three counts of tax fraud as his club, Barcelona, expressed their "solidarity" with their star player.

Messis Sr and Jr are each accused of defrauding Spain's tax office of €4.1 million ($4.5m) in unpaid taxes from 2007-09 with the state attorney demanding a 22-month prison sentence, according to court documents made public on Thursday.

Messi Jr, who is currently sidelined by injury and unlikely to play again until late November, is likely to be called as a witness when the trial eventually takes place in the Vilanova i la Geltru district in Barcelona.

Since the Messis both appeared in court in the Catalan town of Gava in September 2013, a number of different rulings have been made by judges in both Madrid and Barcelona, with the family's lawyers and state tax officials taking different various legal steps which have either stalled or advanced the proceedings at various intervals.

This latest development comes as the Spanish State Attorney said in court documents that it was pushing for prison terms for the two men, something which Lionel Messi Management claims in a statement conflicts with the decision of the country's Public Prosecution Office.

"The Public Prosecution Office did not accuse the Argentine of any tax crime, but rather extensively explained the reasons why he should not be charged," the statement reads.

"The State Legal Service is contradicting the Public Prosecution Office's request and judgement.

"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 [Jr] is correct."

Barcelona adopted the same position in a statement published on their official website.

"The club will continue to give its judicial, fiscal and administrative support to the family in this process," the statement reads.

"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 September 25 decided not to accuse Lionel Messi of tax fraud, and the verdict expressed today 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."

Since news of the issue broke during the summer of 2013, the Messis have reportedly paid €5m to the authorities, to cover money owed from the 2007 to 2009 period, plus interest.

They are also reported to have paid €10m in taxes due on such income for the years 2010 and 2011.

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