Barcelona have given their full backing to Lionel Messi in the Argentina forward's tax fraud case and vowed to fight 'external decisions' unfairly targeting the club.
Lionel Messi
It will recalled that a Spanish court on Thursday ordered Messi and his father Jorge, who are accused of defrauding the Spanish state of 4.2 million euros ($4.76 million) from 2007 to 2009, to stand trial and the state attorney said Barca's star player should serve a jail sentence of up to 22 months if found guilty.
However, both FC Barcelona and Leo Messi’s management Company have issued communiques criticizing the decision taken by a Spanish court to make the Argentine face trial for tax avoidance alongside his father.
In a statement published late on Thursday, Barca noted the state attorney's stance was "the complete opposite" to that of Spain's public prosecutor, who has said Lionel Messi should not have to answer the charges as his father oversaw his finances.
"FC Barcelona has expressed its affection and solidarity to Leo Messi and his family in such a peculiar situation.
"The club shall continue to offer him and his family its full support and assistance in the legal, fiscal and administrative aspects of these proceedings," the statement said.