No doubt over Lionel Messi's innocence, say Barcelona
Barcelona threw their support behind Lionel Messi on Thursday, insisting they had no doubt that the superstar was innocent of tax avoidance.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 13, 2013 11:48 PM IST
Barcelona threw their support behind Lionel Messi on Thursday, insisting they had no doubt that the superstar was innocent of tax avoidance.
"We are all calm," Barcelona president Sandro Rosell told a news conference in this northeastern city.
"His family have all of our support," he added.
"We do not have the slightest doubt of Messi's complete innocence in this matter."
Argentina star Messi and his father Jorge Horacio have been accused of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of more than four million euros ($5 million, £3.4 million).
Rosell said he had spoken to Messi's family in Argentina and they were calm in the face of the allegations, which have shocked the sporting world.
He could not say, however, whether the club would provide legal support.
"I do not know legally if we can speak in Messi's name, we have to discuss that with the legal services," Rosell said.
"The most important thing is to assure him that we are with him in everything."