Prosecutor agrees to replace Messi 21-month prison sentence with a fine

Prosecutor agrees to replace Messi 21-month prison sentence with a fine

Messi puede ver reducida su pena
Messi puede ver reducida su pena | VALENTÍ ENRICH
EFE

Messi will have to pay just over 250,000 euros if the judge gives the go-ahead

The Barça star and his father were found guilty of tax fraud in a trial last year

Prosecutors are happy to change the 21-month prison sentence against Lionel Messi for a fine, it was confirmed on Friday. 

They said they are willing to give the Barcelona player a fine of 400 euros per day (around 255,500 euros in total) on top of the original fine of two million euros which was imposed with the original sentence. 

Messi's defence team proposed the same punishment and a judge will now have the final ruling, but in the scenarios they usually go with the prosecutors. 

The Argentine and his father, Jorge Messi, were found guilty of three counts of tax fraud between 2007 and 2009 to the value of 4.1 million euros on image rights and sentenced to 21 months in jail -- Jorge Messi's was eventually decreased to 15 months. 

Following the same fine format (400 euros a day), Jorge Messi will have to pay a fine of 180,000 euros to change his sentence for a fine. 

It's similar to the deal agreed by Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano. 

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