MAWAKILI WA MESSI WASISITIZA KUWA MTEJA WAO HANA HATIA HATIA LAKINI ......................FAINI YAO NI PAUNI MILIONI 3.4

Messi akifanya shopping katika maduka ya Dolce na Gabbana mjini Milan, atalipa faini ya pauni milioni £3.4 kutokana na tuhuma za kukwepa kulipa kodi.

Mawakili wa Lionel Messi wamesisistiza kuwa madai ya kukwepa kulipa kodo ya mteja wao hayana msingi lakini wamesema wataketi chini kuungalia juu ya tuhuma hizo endapo itahitajika kufanya hivyo

Mawakili hao kutoka kampuni ya mawakili ya Juarez Veciana wamesema kupitia taarifa yao kuwa msambuliaji huyo wa Barcelona ni mwadilifu na kwamba hafanani na madai hayo kwani amekuwa akiheshimu sheria za nchi ya Hispania

Messi na baba yake Jorge wanatakiwa kuwepo katika mji wa Gava karibu na jiji la Barcelona kabla ya tarehe ya kusikiliza na kujibu tuhuma hizo Septemba 17 kufuatia kumwepa malipo ya kodi na endapo watakutwa na hatia watatakiwa kulipa faini ya kiasi cha pauni milioni £3.4 kwa kukwepa kodi hiyo katika kipindi cha kuanzia mwaka 2007 mpaka 2009.

Timu ya wanasheria ya msahmbuliaji wa Barcelona Lionel Messi imesisistiza kuwa mshambuiliaji huyo wa kimataifa wa Argentina hana hatia ya kukwepa kulipa kodi kutoka na haki ya matumizi ya kutmika kwa picha zake katika matangazo.


 

'We declare that our client will pay the amount determined,' Messi's lawyers said. 'But we believe that our client has already paid what was legally obliged.'

The state prosecutor alleges Messi and his father used shell companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on revenues from image rights.

The complaint lists Messi's sponsors from the period under investigation. They include Barcelona, Adidas, Danone, Konami, Procter & Gamble, Pepsi-Cola and Telefonica, among several others.

If charged and found guilty - and barring an out-of-court deal - Messi and his father could face a fine amounting to 150 per cent of the concealed earnings and between two and six years in prison.

Messi has recieved support from Barcelona president Sandro Rosell

Messi has denied any wrongdoing and has received public backing from Barcelona club president Sandro Rosell and predecessor Joan Laporta - who was in charge during the years of the allegations.

The 25-year-old scored an incredible 60 goals in Spain last season to lead Barcelona to their fourth domestic title in five seasons.

He is rated by Forbes as the world's 10th highest-paid athlete after reportedly earning £26.7m to June this year, with £13.1m coming from his club salary and £13.6million in endorsements.

Messi's court date may clash with Barcelona's opening game in the Champions League next season, to be played on either September 17 or 18.

Messi amefunga Barcelona jumla ya magoli 60 msimu uliopita.