Football star Messi sentenced to 21 Months in Jail for tax fraud

Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud. His dad, Jorge Messi, was also given a jail term for defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.5m; $4.5m) between 2007 and 2009.

According to Spanish media, he and his dad also face millions of Euros in fines for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay used to conceal earnings from image rights.







But they will likely avoid jail. In Spanish law, prison terms under 2 years can be served under probation.

The football star and his father were found guilty of three counts of tax fraud in Wednesday's ruling by the court in Barcelona.

During the trial, Lionel Messi claimed he "knew nothing" about the management of his financial affairs, he claimed he was just busy "playing football" hence it was his father who managed his money.