Lionel Messi and His Father Bags 21Months Jail Term For Tax Fraud

Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, Spanish media say.

A Spanish court has said the sentences for the 29-year-old Argentina striker can be appealed through the country’s Supreme Court. Messi has been fined two million euros. His father was given the same jail sentence and a fine of 1.5 million euros.

They also face millions of euros in fines for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay used to conceal earnings from image rights.

However, they are likely to avoid jail.

Under the Spanish system, prison terms under two years can be served under probation.