http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/14747 ... ew&cc=3436Leo Messi and his father are reportedly being sued by the Spanish tax authorities for millions of euros in unpaid taxes related to the Barcelona player's image rights.
Barcelona's El Periodico newspaper says the attorney involved has told it that Messi and his father Jorge deliberately hid commercial revenues from the Spanish authorities from 2006 through to 2009 by channelling the income through front companies in tax havens.
The paper reports the amount owed as €13 million, though other media has the figure being sought by the authorities as €4 million.
The paper quotes its source as saying the alleged tax dodge "consisted of simulating the assignment of image rights to front companies based in tax havens [Belize, Uruguay] and, at the same time, formalising contracts of licensing, agency or benefit from services between these companies, and other such instruments domiciled in convenient jurisdictions [the UK, Switzerland]. This was done with the intended and successful aim that the incomes would move from countries where the companies or entities were based, to companies domiciled in tax havens, without being submitted to any taxation and, furthermore, with total opacity towards the Spanish Tax Authorities. The beneficiary of these incomes was no other than the person served - Lionel A. Messi."
The suit was presented before a judge on Wednesday morning in the Catalan town of Gava, where the Barcelona player is legally domiciled for tax purposes.
According to Forbes Messi, 25, is the tenth best paid sportsperson in the world, with total annual earnings of $41.3 million, which include $21 million earned through endorsements from his various sponsors.
The Argentine - reigning four-time World Player of the Year - is currently on holiday in South America, having made his final appearance of the 2012-13 season as a substitute in Tuesday's 1-1 World Cup 2014 qualifier draw in Quito against Ecuador.
blown out of water? or a serious case unfolding?
