1 of 2 | Lionel Messi of Argentina controls the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Group F match at the Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 15, 2014. Messi will now stand trail in Spain for tax evasion according to reports. File Photo by UPI/Chris Brunskill |
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BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Barcelona star Lionel Messi and his father Jorge are to stand trial in Spain accused of defrauding the country of more than $5 million in taxes, according to reports.
According to the BBC, a Barcelona court turned down an appeal made by Messi's lawyers to drop the tax fraud charges against the striker.
Messi now faces three counts of tax fraud with the state attorney demanding a 22-month jail sentence if found guilty. Both Messi and his father deny any wrongdoing.
In 2014, the Messi duo was accused of not paying tax on earnings on the star's image rights from 2007 to 2009, according to Super Sport. "While it is understandable that a player of this magnitude is not aware of all the details of managing a millionaire, there are elements of a fiscal debt," prosecutors told the website.
Messi's father allegedly set up a number of companies which would "simulate the handing over of the player's image rights," according to an El Pais report.
"The Barcelona Provincial High Court believes there is evidence that the Argentine forward "benefited" from a network of companies that allowed him to defraud the Spanish Tax Agency of €4.1 million in income tax, regardless of whether or not he had knowledge of the structures in place," the report read.
Recently, Messi was injured during a win against Las Palmas that will keep the star out for seven to eight weeks.