Lionel Messi tax fraud trial to begin May 31

MADRID (Reuters) – Lionel Messi’s tax fraud case will be heard by a Barcelona court from May 31 through to June 3, according to statement on Wednesday.

World Player of the Year Messi and his father Jorge are accused of defrauding the Spanish state of 4.2 million euros ($4.6 million) in tax between 2007 and 2009 and a Spanish court ordered that they stand trial last October.

The state attorney has proposed jail terms of up to 22 months if they are found guilty.

Barcelona forward Messi and his father have already paid five million euros to the tax authorities as a “corrective” measure after they were formally charged in June 2013.

($1 = 0.9163 euros)

(Reporting by Paul Day)