Advertisement

Neymar loses appeal and will likely stand trial for tax fraud

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Neymar loses appeal and will likely stand trial for tax fraud
The Barça star and his family will go to court over dodgy transfer. Photo: AFP

A Spanish court on Monday dismissed appeals from Neymar and Barcelona over alleged fraud and corruption in the Brazilian star's transfer from Santos in 2013.

Advertisement

The decision brings the possibility of the player and club facing trial a step closer.

Neymar's arrival from Brazil's Santos has been a huge success for the Spanish champions on the pitch but a judicial nightmare off it.  

The 25-year-old Brazilian striker is being investigated in Brazil and Spain over his headline move to La Liga.

Barcelona originally published the transfer figure as €57.1 million ($60.6 million), with €40 millions of that given to the player's family.  

But Spanish authorities believe the true transfer figure was at least €83 million.

In November, prosecutors recommended that the striker be handed a two-year jail sentence and a fine of €10 million for alleged corrupt practices.

Sentences of two years or less are habitually suspended for first time offenders in Spain.

The case initiated with a complaint from Brazilian investment company DIS, which owned 40 percent of Neymar's sporting rights at the time of his transfer.  

DIS received just €6.8 million, 40 percent of the fee paid to Santos, with the company claiming it was cheated out of its real share because part of the transfer fee was concealed by Barcelona, Santos and the Neymar family.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also