Lionel Messi Handed 21 Months Jail Term In Spain For Tax Fraud And Twitter Exploded!

Considered as the greatest footballer, Lionel Messi is swimming in troubled waters now!

Messi has been handed jail term for 21 months in Spain for tax evasion. His father, Jorge Messi, has also been caught in this cobweb of tax fraud.

Image source

In addition to the jail term, the footballer will also pay a fine of 2 Million euros (Rs 14.9 crore) and his dad will pay a fine of 1.5 million euros (Rs 11.2 crore)

The duo has been suspected of defrauding Spain’s tax authority of 4.1 million Euros between 2007-2009. They had also created tax havens in Belize and Uruguay, thus escaping the tax laws and concealing their earnings.

 

However, Lionel Messi commented that he didn’t know about this at all and all he did was “play football”.

Image source

This is what he told the court:

The truth is no, the truth is no, I didn’t know. As my dad explained earlier I just dedicated myself to playing football, I put my trust in my father, in the lawyers who had decided to manage this thing.

 

But, both of them won’t serve time in jail because as per Spanish law, prison term under 2 years can be served under probation.

This means that the talented footballer will serve time in jail if he commits another crime during the next two years.

 

Twitterati collectively lost their shit and didn’t spare the chance to express their opinion on the same.

We bring to you some of the best ones:

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

4.

 

5.

 

6.

 

7.

 

8.

 

9.

 

10.

Well, it’s hard to believe that Messi really didn’t know what was going on and all he was doing was “playing football”, but at the same time it’s hard seeing your role model facing this law.

What do you think?

Source: BBC

Cover Image Source

📣 Storypick is now on Telegram! Click here to join our channel (@storypick) and never miss another great story.