We thought he was in the clear. We really did. The Lionel Messi tax evasion case moved forward Thursday with the news that a request from the prosecutors on the case to drop the charges against Messi had been denied by the judge trying the case, the BBC reported.
On Tuesday, the BBC had reported that Messi (but not his father) was in the clear, and that the charges had been dropped against him, but not his father. Now it appears both Messis will have to stand trial for the tax evasion charges levied against them, which carry possible 22-month prison sentences (the amount asked for by attorneys for the Spanish tax authorities).
The Lionel Messi Tax Evasion Charges
Messi and his father Jorge are accused of not paying more than €4 million in owed taxes to the Spanish government, allegedly by using companies in Bolivia and Uruguay to funnel Messi's earnings. Most of the supposed wrongdoing in the case rests with Messi's father. Lionel Messi himself was only allegedly complicit in the scheme.
Lionel Messi and his father have both denied any wrongdoing in the case. In 2013 they made a €5 million "corrective payment" to Spain. No date has been set for the trial thus far.
Contact THe18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
