Argentina’s legend footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, Spanish media reports.
A court in Barcelona found him guilty of three counts of tax fraud, a statement from the court said on Wednesday.
The court also sentenced the Argentine soccer player’s father, Jorge, to 21 months in prison for the same three crimes. The sentence can be appealed through the Spanish supreme court, the statement said.
However, under Spanish law a prison sentence under two years can be served under probation, meaning Messi and his father are unlikely to go to jail.
Football fans took to Twitter to vent out their reaction after the news broke in. We bring you an assemblage of the best reactions so far.
When you're manager of the Barcelona prison team but see that Messi's sentence is suspended… https://t.co/xdFhz5esLX
— Dream Team (@dreamteamfc) July 6, 2016
Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Neymar both in trouble for tax evading. Must be all that tiki-taxa they teach them in that academy.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 6, 2016
#messi @101greatgoals @102greatgoals pic.twitter.com/RMc8djKOLU
— Andrew Kuhl (@Andrew_Kuhl) July 6, 2016
Messi to the Spanish Police be like…https://t.co/hUtnvophl4
— 90min (@90min_Football) July 6, 2016
Lionel Messi's attitude to tax: pic.twitter.com/I46TWAJi6S
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 6, 2016
Blimey. No wonder he retired from international football. https://t.co/mc8ZZFI7ro
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) July 6, 2016
When you hear that Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in jail for Tax Fraud. pic.twitter.com/SkES7zgSNi
— Not Match of the Day (@NOT_MOTD) July 6, 2016
When you hear that it is a suspended sentence meaning Messi won't go to jail. pic.twitter.com/bVdPnoy3tW
— Not Match of the Day (@NOT_MOTD) July 6, 2016
BREAKING: Lionel Messi's official photo for 2016/17 season. pic.twitter.com/T6DiS57FrN
— BBC Sporf (@BBCSporf) July 6, 2016
Lionel Messi arriving to pick up his 2016 Ballon d'Or. pic.twitter.com/c2qVSRvS4O
— Coral (@Coral) July 6, 2016
Lionel Messi: As good at evading prison sentences as he is La Liga defenders.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 6, 2016
Messi is even better at dodging prison than he is defenders..?https://t.co/01Hm123si0
— Betsafe (@Betsafe) July 6, 2016
If Messi gets 21 months in prison for fraud then surely Jack Wilshire gets at least a life sentence.
— Gaz Drinkwater (@Radio_Gaz) July 6, 2016
BREAKING. Lionel Messi and his Father given 21 months in prison for tax fraud. pic.twitter.com/MjBPvyIbVx
— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) July 6, 2016
Under Spanish law sentences under two years can be suspended. Messi got 21 months. pic.twitter.com/WaSdjKP79p
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 6, 2016
Messi given 21 months in jail for tax fraud, but won't actually go to prison. Tax frauds the world over will be looking to move to Spain.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 6, 2016
Mean Machine ft. Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/tZCHTZHQiD
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) July 6, 2016
