Messi Charged with Tax Evasion through Ghost Companies

Lionel Messi, the man who is considered to be the world’s best football player, will be facing tax fraud allegations in Spain.

After his team disappointed millions of supporters – not to mention gamblers who bet on sports in Spain and put their money on the FC Barcelona icon – by losing the World Cup final to Germany, the bad news continues for Messi with tax fraud charges.

In all fairness, this is not the first time when the soccer player is put in such a position. He has faced similar allegations in 2006 and 2009, and was found innocent in both cases.

But rumor has it things are different this time around, as Spanish authorities claim both Lionel and his father Jorge skipped on tax payments from his image rights, through what the press described as web of shell companies.

Judge finds “sufficient evidence” to pursue case

So far, the professional soccer player has managed to keep his name out of tabloids and controversial gambling news, but now he’s the number one target after the Spanish judge’s office released a statement saying: “there is sufficient evidence to suggest that he could have known about and consented to the creation and maintaining of a fictitious financial structure.”

Despite the fact that his father paid back EUR 5 million, equal to the alleged unpaid tax plus interest, and despite the public prosecutor’s recommendation to drop the charges, the judge decided to pursue the case.

Rumor has it several documents pertaining to these ghost companies had the Argentinean football star’s signature on them. If Messi and his father are found guilty, they could spend six years in prison and end up paying $32 million in fines.