SPORTS
Lionel Messi handed jail term in Spain for tax fraud
Baku, July 6 AZERTAC
Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, Spanish media say.
His father, Jorge Messi, was also given a jail term for defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.5m; $4.5m) between 2007 and 2009.
They also face millions of euros in fines for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay used to conceal earnings from image rights.
However, they are likely to avoid jail.
Under the Spanish system, prison terms under two years can be served under probation.
The footballer 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, saying he was "playing football".
FEEDBACK
Other news in this section
- 27.04.2024 [20:01]
Another Azerbaijani judoka crowned European champion
- 27.04.2024 [19:04]
Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at West Ham further damages Premier League title hopes
- 27.04.2024 [16:31]
Greece hands over Olympic Flame to Paris 2024 Games organizers
- 27.04.2024 [15:46]
I have full confidence in Wada - IOC president Bach
- 27.04.2024 [11:59]
Guler goal gives much-changed Real Madrid win over Real Sociedad
- 26.04.2024 [21:07]
Hidayat Heydarov crowned four-time European champion
WHO says current public health risk posed by bird flu 'low'
- 27.04.2024 [20:14]
Another Azerbaijani judoka crowned European champion
- 27.04.2024 [20:01]
Long lines form and frustration grows as Cuba runs short of cash
- 27.04.2024 [19:40]
Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at West Ham further damages Premier League title hopes
- 27.04.2024 [19:04]
® Affordable smartphone offer from Nar!
- 27.04.2024 [18:49]
Azerbaijani servicemen attend Efes - 2024 multinational exercise
- 27.04.2024 [18:35]
Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund buys Tesla and Intel stocks - EXCLUSIVE
- 27.04.2024 [18:17]
Dmitri Peskov: Russia advocates for peace deal between Armenia, Azerbaijan
- 27.04.2024 [18:07]
One more suspect in Crocus City Hall terror attack arrested — police
- 27.04.2024 [17:41]
Rwanda Bill has caused migrants to pour into Ireland, says deputy PM
- 27.04.2024 [17:16]
President of Montenegro: Azerbaijan is a friendly country for us
- 27.04.2024 [17:14]
Greece hands over Olympic Flame to Paris 2024 Games organizers
- 27.04.2024 [16:31]
Earth's rotation slowing, making days longer: Scientists
- 27.04.2024 [14:41]
M6.9 earthquake hits south of Tokyo, no tsunami threat
- 27.04.2024 [14:35]
ANAMA employee injured in landmine blast in Shusha
- 27.04.2024 [14:16]
US Air Force awards $13 billion Doomsday plane contract to Sierra Nevada
- 27.04.2024 [13:42]
60-year-old lawyer makes history by being crowned Miss Universe Buenos Aires
- 27.04.2024 [13:41]
Azerbaijan, Montenegro discuss interparliamentary cooperation
- 27.04.2024 [13:40]
Moroccan King invited to COP29
- 27.04.2024 [12:57]
Oil prices surge in global markets
- 27.04.2024 [12:08]
Guler goal gives much-changed Real Madrid win over Real Sociedad
- 27.04.2024 [11:59]
Azerbaijan Army command-staff exercises accomplished
- 27.04.2024 [11:39]
20th Ankara book fair kicks off in Turkiye
- 27.04.2024 [11:36]
Azerbaijani oil price climbs above $90
- 27.04.2024 [10:50]
Britain's King Charles to return to duty after cancer treatment
- 27.04.2024 [10:23]
Hidayat Heydarov crowned four-time European champion
- 26.04.2024 [21:07]
President Ilham Aliyev concluded his working visit to Germany VIDEO
- 26.04.2024 [21:00]
PKK bomber gets 7 life terms for Istanbul attack
- 26.04.2024 [20:50]
British man tests first personalised melanoma vaccine
- 26.04.2024 [20:33]
Azerbaijani, Kazakh military specialists hold meetings
- 26.04.2024 [20:23]
Kazakh delegation visits Azerbaijan Air Force Central Command Post
- 26.04.2024 [19:04]
AZAL introduces exclusive airfare deals to Bucharest and Sofia
- 26.04.2024 [18:38]
Gaza pier: US begins building floating base to boost aid
- 26.04.2024 [17:48]
Kyrgyz Minister of Digital Development informed about "ASAN Xidmet" center
- 26.04.2024 [16:57]
Azerbaijani judoka captures European silver
- 26.04.2024 [16:28]
Azerbaijani boxers claim two European bronzes in Serbia
- 26.04.2024 [16:27]
Deepwater Gunashli planned turnaround programme
- 26.04.2024 [16:23]
Xi meets Blinken, stresses major country responsibilities for China, U.S.
- 26.04.2024 [16:19]
Azerbaijani Paralympic swimmer secures his third European medal in Portugal
- 26.04.2024 [16:18]
Another 39 families relocated to Fuzuli city get house keys
- 26.04.2024 [15:58]
President Ilham Aliyev: COP29 will not be an arena of confrontation
- 26.04.2024 [15:39]
President Ilham Aliyev: There are very good opportunities to achieve peace
- 26.04.2024 [15:14]
Olaf Scholz: We welcome initial demarcation agreements
- 26.04.2024 [15:01]
Closing ceremony of Turkish-Russian Joint Monitoring Center held
- 26.04.2024 [14:47]
Aramco and FIFA announce global partnership
- 26.04.2024 [13:22]
Some US troops set to depart Chad, at least temporarily
- 26.04.2024 [12:00]
Meeting of SCO defense ministers to start in Astana today
- 26.04.2024 [11:33]
Russian cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule
- 26.04.2024 [11:26]
Ancient Giant Tortoise Fossils Found In Colombian Andes
- 26.04.2024 [11:25]
Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis embarks on official visit to Montenegro
- 26.04.2024 [11:24]
Man City hammer Brighton 4-0 to be hot on English leaders Arsenal's trail
- 26.04.2024 [11:17]