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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 denied 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. |
| He has also signed a number of multimillion-dollar endorsements with major sponsors around the globe. | |
| Image rights | |
| 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. | |
| If convicted, Messi could face up to six years in prison and a large fine, according to Spain's EFE news agency. | If convicted, Messi could face up to six years in prison and a large fine, according to Spain's EFE news agency. |
| Responding to the allegation, Messi expressed surprise at Wednesday's development. | |
| He wrote on his Facebook page: "We have never committed any infringement. We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advices of our tax consultants who will take care of clarifying this situation." | |
| The investigation comes as the Spanish authorities step up their efforts to clamp down on tax fraud, as the government tries to balance its budget during a continuing economic crisis, the BBC's Tom Burridge in Madrid reports. | |
| Messi's record | |
| Messi joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old in 2000, and made his first-team debut three years later. | |
| He soon became one of the most influential players at the Catalan team, winning Europe's most prestigious club competition - the Champions League - three times. | |
| Last year, Messi scored a record 86 goals for club and country in a calendar year. | |
| He is now considered by many experts to be one of football's best ever players |