Barcelona star Lionel Messi will go on trial in Spain over tax fraud with the State Attorney recommending he be jailed for 22 months.
The judge of the case has rejected the public prosecutor’s request to only try the Argentina international’s father, and Messi will subsequently have to stand trial.
Messi stands accused of avoiding €4.1 million in tax obligations from 2007 to 2009, related to payments on image rights.
Prosecutors had asked to drop the case against the 28-year-old, arguing that his father had control of his son’s finances and his “business interests”, but he will now be tried along with Messi Sr.
Jorge Messi had been facing an 18-month prison sentence.
