Lionel Messi Tax Trial Dates Altered For Copa America
Spanish prosecutors are seeking a jail sentence of 22-and-a-half months for Lionel Messi.
Highlights
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Lionel Messi and his father Jorge have been charged with tax fraud.
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Both Messi and Jorge have denied the accusations.
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Messi's name also features in the leaked Panama Papers.
Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi's trial for tax fraud has been reset to its initial start date of May 31 after an earlier change in the schedule threatened his participation in June's Copa America in the United States. (Panama Papers: Lionel Messi, FIFA Officials, Michel Platini Named in Secret Offshore Files)
The initial decision to delay the start of the trial till June 7 would have seen Messi at least miss Argentina's opening group game against reigning champions Chile in Santa Clara, California, on June 6.
However, a judicial source said on Wednesday that the trial would start as scheduled on May 31 after a "misunderstanding" regarding the dates without offering further details.
Messi and his father Jorge have been charged with tax fraud for allegedly failing to declare 4.16 million euros ($4.74 million) in taxes related to his image rights between 2007 and 2009 through front companies in Belize and Uruguay. (Lionel Messi Trial For Tax Fraud To Start May 31: Court)
The pair also released a statement on Monday fiercely denying further claims of tax evasion after Messi was one of a series of high-profile names accused of shady offshore dealings in the Panama Papers scandal. (Never Dreamt of Leo's Success, Says Father Jorge)
Spanish prosecutors are seeking a jail sentence of 22-and-a-half months for the five-time World Player of the Year.
However, any such sentence would likely be suspended as is common in Spain for first offences carrying a sentence of less than two years.