Lionel Messi will have to stand trial on tax evasion charges
Barcelona star Lionel Messi will have to stand trial for tax evasion after his appeal was rejected on Friday.
The charges relate to the Argentine international's image rights between 2007 and 2009, including contracts with Adidas, Pepsi-Cola, Banco Sabadell, Proctor and Gamble, and the Kuqait Food Company.
Messi, and his father, Jorge, are accused of defrauding to the tune of more than €4million.
"In this type of crime, it is not necessary for someone to have complete knowledge of all the accounting and business operations nor the exact quantity, rather it is sufficient to be aware of the designs to commit fraud and consent to them," the judge ruled.
He also rejected the proposal that Alfonso Nebot, Ángel Juárez and Raul Sanllehí should stand as witnesses.
Their statements are "not relevant", he said.
