Lionel Messi sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud

[Lineker]

Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, Spanish media say

Awaiting more info on this story but Reuters are reporting it. Even if he doesn't end up serving any time - holy shit!

Quote

Barcelona soccer star Messi sentenced to 21 months in prison

MADRID, July 6 (Reuters) - Barcelona soccer star Lionel
Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after a court in
Barcelona found him guilty of three counts of tax fraud, a
statement from the court said on Wednesday.
   The court also sentenced the Argentine soccer player's
father, Jorge, to 21 months in prison for the same three crimes.
The sentence can be appealed through the Spanish supreme court,
the statement said.
   However, under Spanish law a prison sentence under two years
can be served under probation, meaning Messi and his father are
unlikely to go to jail.
   The court ordered Messi to pay a fine of around 2 million
euros ($2.21 million) and his father to pay 1.5 million euros
for the crimes. 

 

[Chris2K]

Well that is both unexpected and somewhat re-affirming. I wouldn't have thought any judge would have given him a prison sentence given his notoriety.

[OctoberRaven]

Uh...

Quote

   However, under Spanish law a prison sentence under two years
can be served under probation, meaning Messi and his father are
unlikely to go to jail.

 

Edited July 6, 2016 by OctoberRavenO

[Lineker]

Not really ORO, he actually was sentenced to serve time in prison. There's just a massive fucking loophole which he will have no problems jumping through  

[Whisper]

Wow, that's pretty amazing.

And I can now somewhat justify my irrational hatred of Messi!

[OctoberRaven]

2 minutes ago, Lineker said:

Not really ORO, he actually was sentenced to serve time in prison. There's just a massive fucking loophole which he will have no problems jumping through  

But if he doesn't actually serve time in prison, is it really being sent to prison?

 

[Lineker]

He was sentenced to it. If he actually goes then you would say that he's been condemned, I suppose.

[Adam]

What's the point of sentencing to someone to 21 months 'in prison' if in actuality, the law is that it won't be a prison sentence. Why not just call it probation in the first place?

[OctoberRaven]

1 minute ago, Adam said:

What's the point of sentencing to someone to 21 months 'in prison' if in actuality, the law is that it won't be a prison sentence. Why not just call it probation in the first place?

Exactly. It reeks of selective wording and saving face.

[Benji]

Does his fine more than cover how much he got away with for fraud?

[Lineker]

5 minutes ago, Benji said:

Does his fine more than cover how much he got away with for fraud?

Yes. The Court of Catalonia found that the Messi's had evaded tax on Lionel’s image rights, with more than €4m owed in back payments.

[Benji]

How much more? Enough to make it a deterrent or just enough to be a little annoyed you were one of the people to get caught out?

[DavidMarrio]

Should have just called it a suspended prison sentence or a conditional discharge really. 

[Rich]

I don't think they have those concepts in Spanish law. This is the equivalent 

[9 to 5]

Clickbait title.

[Lineker]

Just now, 9 to 5 said:

Clickbait title.

No...

Spoiler

u

 

[Moses Julep]

I mean I do wonder how probation would work in Spain; i.e. whether Messi would find himself prohibited from doing certain things like leaving the country. I doubt it because it's not a violent crime and he has no record but I would find it amusing if there was some sort of limitation imposed on his movement. 

[JasonM]

1 hour ago, Adam said:

What's the point of sentencing to someone to 21 months 'in prison' if in actuality, the law is that it won't be a prison sentence. Why not just call it probation in the first place?

Because if he had a criminal record, he WOULD be going to jail for 21 months. It's something to do with 'protecting' first time offenders and not throwing people into jail if the sentence is less than 2 years.
No idea why they don't just call it probation though...

[MDK]

TBF he has missed a penalty recently, so this is no surprise. 

[GA!]

...and yet, Ronaldo is still a bigger cunt.