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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 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 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 Argentina forward and his father, Jorge Horacio, are suspected of filing fraudulent tax returns for 2007-09, officials say. |
| The 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. |
| His net annual salary at Barcelona is said to be 16m euros, making him one of the world's highest-paid athletes. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| If convicted, Messi could face up to six years in prison and a large fine, according to Spain's EFE news agency. |