Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi is set to face trial for alleged tax evasion, according to a ruling by a Spanish judge.
The judge rejected a prosecution recommendation to drop the charges on the grounds the player’s father was responsible for his finances. Messi and his father Jorge are accused of defrauding the authorities of more than €4 million.
Strangely, in August 2013 Messi and his father made a €5 million “corrective payment”, equal to the alleged unpaid tax plus interest.
The pair, who deny wrongdoing, have five days to appeal against the ruling.