Messi coughs up €5 million in tax fraud case

Messi and his father have paid the €5 million owed to the tax office, thus avoiding a bond being imposed on them that would have guaranteed the eventual repayment of the amount.

As reported by the Court of Justice of Catalonia, the judge investigating the case has refused to impose a bond on Messi given the global profile and solvency of the player and due to the "corrective payment" that his father - also accused - made in August of €5,016,542.27 "in fulfilment of tax obligations in the manner, form and amount the IRS has deemed correct."

The €5 million deposited by Messi's father, on 14th August, was to cover a "fee and interest" in open court proceedings relating to the tax lawsuit for defrauding the IRS to the tune of €4.1 million between 2007 and 2009.

The judge said that after making the "corrective payment" of €5 million "there are no reasonable grounds to understand" that Messi and his father, Jorge Messi "are going to act illegally during the pendency process by withdrawing any goods or assets".

It was stressed that the imposition of a bond on the father and son – as demanded by the state – was not justified as it was deemed not "urgent or necessary".

The judge also agreed to refer the request filed by Messi's lawyer in order to suspend his declaration scheduled for 17th September, as the lawyer has to attend another trial.