Lionel Messi tax fraud trial in Spain set to start in May

MADRID -- Lionel Messi's tax fraud trial in Spain
has been set for May 31-June 3, conflicting with
the start of the centennial Copa America in the
United States.

The Copa America Centenario will kick off on June
3, meaning the five-time world player of the year
may not make it in time for Argentina's opening
game.

The full Copa America schedule won't be known
until the draw on Feb. 21, but Messi's lawyers are
expected to try to change the trial dates.

The Barcelona forward is already expected to
have a shorter preparation ahead of the
tournament if his side reaches the Champions
League final, which is scheduled for May 28 in
Milan.

Messi and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, have
been charged with three counts of tax fraud and
could be sentenced to nearly two years in prison
if found guilty.

They are accused of defrauding Spain's tax office
of €4.1 million ($4.4m) in unpaid taxes from
2007-09.

The case is centered on the alleged unlawful
activities of Messi's father, but authorities said the
Barcelona player knew enough to also merit being
named in the case.

The attorney's office called for a prison sentence
of 22 months and 15 days for Messi and his
father, along with a fine in the amount defrauded,
payment of all legal proceedings and the loss of
any possible tax benefits for a year and a half.

The high-profile case has been taken as Spain's
tax authorities maintain that image rights
payments made to the player have been
channelled through offshore tax-havens, leading
to the evasion of €4.1m in taxes between 2007
and 2009.

Since news of the issue broke during the summer
of 2013, the Messis have reportedly paid €5m to
the authorities, to cover money owed from the
2007 to 2009 period, plus interest.

They are also
reported to have paid €10m in taxes due on such income for the years 2010 and 2011.