Barcelona Soccer star Lionel Messi has issued a statement saying he did not commit “any infringement” after Spanish tax officials accused him of tax crimes of about $5.3 million, according to Sky Sports.
His statement, published on Facebook in Spanish, translates:
"We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities. We are surprised about the news, because we have never committed any infringement.
"We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants, who will take care of clarifying this situation."
The reports from state officials say Messi and his farther, Jorge Horacio, may have filed false tax returns from 2007-2009.
Messi, who is the reigning World Player of the Year (and has won it four times), has had an illustrious career—three-time Champions League winner, six Primera Division crowns, two FIFA Club World Cups with the Catalan Giants and 86 goals (a record) for both his club team and national team in 2012.
For the charges to reach Messi and his dad, a judge must approve the complaint from the prosecutor.
According to Professor Sandalio Gomez, a sports finance analyst from the University of Navarra, if Messi is found guilty, he could pay, as Sky Sports puts it, “150 percent of earnings concealed.” He will not face any jail time if he is convicted of the tax fraud.
Germany attorney Gregor Reiter, a specialist in sports law, says Messi’s situation displays “how important it is for athletes to have excellent and highly-trained counselors and agents” to deal with financials issues such as these.
Professor of Sport Management in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan, Stefan Szymanski, says this has more to do with politics than soccer.
''I think it's grandstanding,'' he explained. ''They see it as a demonstration effect - everybody takes notice. Everybody thinks, ‘I'd better pay my taxes’.''
State tax officials issued the complaint a day after the 1-1 tie between Argentina and Ecuador in a World Cup qualifying match in Quito.
