Lionel Messi Not Clear of Tax Trouble

• Reuters, Monday, July 28, 2014 2:19 PM

Despite the prosecutor arguing in June that his father Jorge was responsible for the family's finances and not the player, a Spanish court will push ahead with the process of prosecuting Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi for alleged tax evasion. The court in Barcelona has decided that Lionel Messi could have known about and approved the creation of a web of shell companies that were allegedly used to evade taxes due on income from image rights.

Messi earns more than $40 million a season in salary and bonuses, according to Forbes magazine, as well as about $23 million from sponsors. The Spanish state of accused them of filing false returns for the years 2006 to 2009 that hid $5.4 million they owed. The Messis have denied wrongdoing.

Jorge Messi made a payment of $6.6 million in August 2013 to cover alleged unpaid taxes, plus interest

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