Messi’s 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud upheld

TIL Desk Sports/ The Spanish Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the 21-month prison sentence handed down by a Barcelona court to FC Barcelona’s Argentinian star forward Lionel Messi for tax fraud. Spain’s highest court also upheld the conviction of Messi’s father, although it reduced his prison term from 21 to 15 months.

Messi, a contemporary soccer legend, had been found guilty on three tax fraud counts after he evaded a total of 4.1 million euros ($4.59 million) in taxes accrued from the exploitation of his image rights. Jorge Messi’s reduced sentence came as a result of having returned part of the money owed to the Spanish tax authorities.

This mitigating circumstance was already applied to Messi by the Barcelona court in July; now the Supreme Court has dictated that the same measure must be applied to his father, who was accused of aiding and abetting his son’s tax fraud. The court’s verdict also included a fine of two million euros ($2.23 million) for the soccer player and another 1.3 million euro ($1.45 million) fine for his father.