Lionel Messi swaps 21-month prison sentence for fine
The Spanish public prosecutor has accepted to allow the Barcelona star and his father pay a fine instead of going to prison for their role in the 4.1 million euro tax fraud.
Update:
The public prosecutor in Spain has agreed to substitute the 21-month prison sentence imposed on Barcelona star Lionel Messi for a fine. This comes after both the player and his father were found guilty of 4.1 million euro tax fraud against the tax authorities in Spain.
Full screen
Prison never likely for Messi
Due to the laws in Spain, a prison sentence was never likely to have been served by the Argentine player. According to reports from legal sources at news organisation EFE, the prosecutor took into consideration no previous offences and the fact that Messi had agreed to pay an debts. This will remove the original punishment.
Reports suggest that Messi will pay 252,000 euros and his father 180,000 euros.
