SPANISH COURT TO TRY MESSI FOR TAX FRAUD

The alleged tax fraud allegation on Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and his father is far from over, as a court in Spain has ruled that
the player be tried.

Messi and his father Jorge are accused of defrauding Spain of more than €4m (£3.1m; $5m). They deny any wrongdoing.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the tax authorities demanded 22-month jail sentences for both defendants.

Prosecutors allege that Jorge avoided paying tax on his son's earnings by using offshore companies in Belize and Uruguay in 2007-09.

Messi's lawyers had argued that the player had "never devoted a minute of his life to reading, studying or analysing" the contracts.