Lionel Messi and father accused of £3.4m tax fraud

Lionel Messi has been accused of tax fraud to the tune of £3.4million.

A lawsuit was lodged against the Barcelona forward and his father by a state prosecutor for the north eastern region of Catalonia.

The complaint has been submitted for trial in Gava, the upscale Barcelona district where the 25-year-old lives.


Both Messi and his father, Jorge Horacio, are accused of three offences against the public purse for allegedly defrauding more than £3.4m in income tax returns relating to the years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

A judge at the courthouse must accept the prosecutor's lawsuit before charges can be brought.