Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have been found guilty of ‘tax fraud’ and have received a 21-month prison sentence.
According to SkySports, the Court of Catalonia has found that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have been deemed guilty on three counts of tax fraud. However, the verdict can be appealed through the Spanish Supreme court. The court has also ordered Lionel to pay a fine of £1.7 million and his father too, has been charged £1.27 million.
On the 3rd of June, during another hearing, prosecutors had come to the conclusion that Lionel Messi’s father was the person responsible for evasion of taxes of around £3.17 million, during 2007-09.
Despite being handed a sentence, the father-son duo could avoid facing time behind bars. The Barcelona player does not have any prior criminal record, and in Spain, sentences under the duration of 2 years can be served on probation – meaning neither Messi nor his father will have to be imprisoned.
It didn’t take too long for the football fans around the world to get wind of the news and all of them took to Twitter to react, and needless to say, Cristiano Ronaldo featured heavily and so did a puppy.
if Messi paid his taxes he would’ve scored his penalty and won. Ronaldo paid his taxes.
— cartier burgundy (@cartierburgundy) July 6, 2016
Ronaldo when he heard Messi had a jail sentence but it was suspended! pic.twitter.com/vF0A6KXuwK
#Messi sentenced: https://t.co/YdcpxqvFJW #MessiTaxMess pic.twitter.com/5t6rYg7snh
— AS English (@English_AS) July 6, 2016
Messi in Jail. Sharapova is banned. This future of sport will surely boost confidence of Indian parents to chose engineering for their kids.
— Amar (@Immortalizeboy) July 6, 2016
— Full Time DEVILS (@FullTimeDEVILS) July 6, 2016
How Ronaldo feels after finding out that Messi won’t serve his 21 month jail sentence… Safe to say he’s mad ?https://t.co/unapS2ongF
— Free Bets (@freebetscouk) July 6, 2016
#Messi will NOT go to prison, despite being found guilty of tax fraud. pic.twitter.com/lB6GWlhEyb
— FootballFanCast.com (@FootballFanCast) July 6, 2016
Lionel Messi has been given a jail sentence? What’s the point? he won’t have to serve it.
— Steve Long (@stevelong193) July 6, 2016
“We can’t give him 24 months because it’s #Messi.”
“23?”
“Nah, that’s too obvious. Make it 21.”
— CLICKON Soccer (@CLICKONSoccer) July 6, 2016
Lionel Messi: As good at evading prison sentences as he is La Liga defenders.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 6, 2016
Messi dodging prison like.. https://t.co/7sDLDKBZmJ
— Sunday League (@SundayShoutsFC) July 6, 2016
Barcelona jail gutted that Messi’s prison sentence is suspended. The prison five-a-side team’s under serious pressure lately.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 6, 2016
Messi given 21 months in jail for tax fraud, but won’t actually go to prison. Tax frauds the world over will be looking to move to Spain.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 6, 2016
Suspended sentence for Messi!!! Thanks guys. I’m going to get audited in Spain!!
— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) July 6, 2016
LOOOL Messi saved about €26.7m of tax money and pays only €2m fine to not go to jail? Give me the first ticket to Spain please.
— Wilshoholic (@Wilshoholic) July 6, 2016
Messi handed suspended jail sentence. Meaning if he racks up 5 yellow cards in La Liga next season…he’ll be off to prison.
— Coral (@Coral) July 6, 2016
My 8 year old nephew just randomly came to me and said: “Messi is the best player ever”. Never made more sense in his life
— Ahmad (@ChieflySarcastc) July 6, 2016
Messi got sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax evasion?? mad ting I swear paying tax shouldn’t be an issue when ur on £336,000 a week
— jake. (@jakesims) July 6, 2016
Messi to the Spanish Police be like…https://t.co/hUtnvophl4
— 90min (@90min_Football) July 6, 2016
Lionel Messi’s prison sentence is just another penalty he won’t complete.
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) July 6, 2016
Paddy Power just weren’t letting this go..
Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Neymar both in trouble for tax evading. Must be all that tiki-taxa they teach them in that academy.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 6, 2016
Lionel Messi’s attitude to tax: pic.twitter.com/I46TWAJi6S
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 6, 2016
Real Madrid fans finding out Lionel Messi will avoid prison… pic.twitter.com/CVXO8tR3Rr
— Copa90 (@Copa90) July 6, 2016
Fancy stealing the headlines on what could potentially be the greatest day of Cristiano’s career.
Typical Messi
— Alex Clapham (@alexclapham) July 6, 2016
Messi for 21 months in jail?
This will never happen…. pic.twitter.com/doWK0dgTvT— Onefootball (@Onefootball) July 6, 2016