Lionel Messi And His Father Accused Of Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been accused of defrauding £3.4million through false income tax returns in Spain.

The state prosecutor has taken action against the footballer and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, Dailymail
confirms that both are accused of three offences against the public purse for allegedly defrauding millions on income tax returns for 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The complaint, signed by prosecutor Raquel Amado, was submitted for trial at the court in Gava, the upmarket Barcelona suburb where the Argentina forward lives.

A judge must accept the prosecutor's lawsuit before charges can be brought against Messi and his father.
The footballing star released a statement denying any wrongdoing.

Reports emerged today alleging the four-time reigning World Player of the Year and his father, Jorge Horacio, were suspected of filing fraudulent tax returns between 2007 and 2009.
The 25-year-old Argentinian, currently on international duty in South America, swiftly insisted he had done nothing wrong in a statement on his official Facebook page.

It read: 'We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities.
'We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants, who will take care of clarifying this situation.'