He won’t be behind bars
Lionel Messi has received a suspended jail sentence of 21 months and a fine of two million euros for three tax crimes, Reuters has reported.
The court has also sentenced Messi’s father and fined him around 1.5 million euros for tax crimes.
That Barcelona star will not serve time behind bars and both sentences can be appealed through the Supreme Court.
The sentence relates to Lionel and Jorge Messi defrauding Spain of €4.1m (£3.2m; $4.6m) between 2007 and 2009.
BREAKING: Spanish court sentences Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi to 21 months in prison, fines him 2 million euros for three tax crimes
— Reuters Sports (@ReutersSports) July 6, 2016