Messi, father accused of tax fraud in Spain

MANILA, Philippines – Barcelona’s Argentine striker Lionel Messi and his father denied wrongdoing after being accused of defrauding Spain of more than $5.3 million. According to an official for the prosecutor’s office for tax crimes in Catalonia, the World Player of the Year and his father, Jorge, allegedly filed fraudulent tax returns for the years 2006-2009. The pair could face up to four years in jail if found guilty. Messi, who will be 26 this month, is one of the world’s highest-paid athletes with a salary of more than $20 million a season, according to Forbes magazine. -- Mornings @ ANC, June 13, 2013