Report: Messi can avoid prison sentence by paying fine

Lionel Messi can assure himself of no jail time if he pays a fine of €255,000 over the course of his 21-month sentence, according to reports from Spain gathered by BBC News.

The Barcelona forward and his father, Jorge, were deemed guilty in July 2016 of defrauding the Spanish tax system of €4.1 million between 2007 and 2009. An appeal against the sentence was thrown out by the Supreme Court last month, but it’s understood Messi can evade a spell behind bars by paying €400 for each day of the sentence.

He wasn’t expected to serve time inside anyway, as non-violent, first-time crimes incurring a term of less than two years are regularly suspended in Spain.

The court had adjudged Messi and his father to have used tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to hide earnings from image rights. The Argentinian international and Messi Sr. were fined a total of €3.5 million when the verdict was made, and also parted with a voluntary €5-million “corrective payment” to cover the €4.1-million taxes plus interest.

Messi is one of many noted footballers to have been discovered to be dodging taxes while plying their trade in Spain. Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is apparently unsettled by a looming investigation into his alleged fraudulent activity, so is said to be seeking a transfer from the current Champions League and La Liga holder.