Judge keeps tax fraud charges against Messi

A judge in Gava (Barcelona) has dismissed the appeal of footballer Lionel Messi against its complaint on three counts of tax evasion to understand that the striker could learn about the activities of his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, who is her manager and has spent his entire activity economical.

The judge also rejected the motion that Messi Alfonso Nebot testify as witnesses, counsel and director Ángel Juárez Area Management FCB Football Raúl Sanllehí, considering that his statements "not relevant".

Although the prosecutor supported the appeal by Messi because he understands that there is no evidence of the commission of any offense by the player and called "free case alleging he", the State Attorney has objected and the judge understood that is a "subjective opinion" Messi "is at the edge of economic, contractual and management of tax revenue generated," even if his father who's managed.

The prosecution submitted in June 2013 a complaint against Messi and his father Jorge Horacio for allegedly defrauding € 4.1 million to the Treasury. Both were charged by the judge. The player reacted paying additional 10 million after submitting supplementary declarations of income (income) for the years 2010 and 2011 also Messi and his father paid five million euros owed ​​to the Treasury by the three alleged crimes of tax fraud.

In his statement to the judge in September last year, Messi said: "From my dad silver handles." The prosecution considered that Messi did not know how his image rights were managed, and asked that the cause be maintained only against his father. Treasury, however, asked the judge to open trial against both.