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Footballer Lionel Messi investigated for tax fraud in Spain Footballer Lionel Messi investigated for tax fraud in Spain
(35 minutes later)
Barcelona's footballer Lionel Messi and his father are being investigated in Spain for allegedly defrauding the state of more than 4m euros (£3.4m). Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his father are being investigated in Spain for allegedly defrauding the state of more than 4m euros (£3.4m).
The Argentina forward and his father, Jorge, are suspected of filing fraudulent tax returns for 2007-09, Spanish officials say. The 25-year-old Argentina forward and his father, Jorge Horacio, are suspected of filing fraudulent tax returns for 2007-09, officials say.
The 25-year-old World Player of the Year has so far made no comment on the allegation. The World Player of the Year has so far made no comment on the allegation.
More soon. His net annual salary at Barcelona is said to be 16m euros, making him one of the world's highest-paid athletes.
On Wednesday, a complaint signed by prosecutor Raquel Amado was filed at the courthouse in Gava - the affluent Barcelona district where Messi lives.
Judges at the courthouse must accept the complaint before the suspects can be charged, reports say.
Messi and his father are suspected of using companies abroad - in Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use the footballer's image.
The accusation is that by using companies based outside Spain where he lives and plays club football, Messi and his father avoided paying more than 4m euros in tax.