Report: Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano sentenced to year in prison
Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano has reportedly been sentenced to a year in prison and fined €815,00 (£620,000) for tax evasion.
According to El Mundo, the Argentinian admitted two counts of tax fraud in court today but will hope to avoid serving time in jail by paying a larger fine.
In a statement released on his Twitter account this afternoon, the 31-year-old said that he was let down by other people who took care of his finances.
“I’m a sporting professional, I don’t have a great understanding of tax and legal matters,” he wrote. “Therefore, to deal with what are for me technical and complicated matters, I have to rely on other people.
“Throughout all my career I have been an honest person, responsible and respectful of my teammates and the clubs that I have played for and the countries I have lived in.
“I reserve the possibility of action against those who have badly advised me by recommending something that was not right.”
Mascherano, who joined Barcelona from Liverpool in 2010, admitted fraud last year and according to a court filing has repaid €1.75m (£1.35m), the full amount he owed plus interest.
More Stories
ATALANTA’S LOOKMAN EYES PREMIER LEAGUE SUMMER RETURN
Super Eagles and Atalanta BC forward, Ademola Olajade Lookman, has set his eyes on a return to the English Premier...
PRESIDENT FEDERATION CUP: NFF REVEALS ROUND OF 64 MATCHES VENUES, DATES
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has released venues and dates for the President Federation Cup Round of 64 fixtures. The...
THIS IS NOT COLE PALMER FOOTBALL CLUB – POCHETTINO CHALLENGES CHELSEA PLAYERS
Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has warned his players that they would have to step up in the case of Cole...
EURO 2024: UEFA TO INCREASE SQUAD SIZE TO 26 PLAYERS
UEFA are set to increase squad size for this summer’s European Champions to 26 players. This follows a vote on...
NFF TECHNICAL COMMITTEE FAVOURS FOREIGN COACH TO LEAD SUPER EAGLES
The technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has recommended that an expatriate should succeed Jose Peseiro as Super...
SUPER FALCONS WILL THRIVE AT PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS – NFF CHIEF, GUSAU
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s senior women’s soccer team, Super Falcons...