authorities in August
Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his father
are to appear in a Spanish court over tax fraud
allegations.
The 26-year-old Argentine, who has been named World
Player of the Year four times, and his father Jorge Messi
are accused of defrauding the authorities of more than
4m euros (£3.4m).
They are suspected of using companies abroad - in
Belize and Uruguay - to sell the rights to use Messi's
image.
They both deny the allegations, which date back to
2007-09.
'Tougher line'
The striker and his father are expected to be questioned
in a closed-court session in Gava - the affluent
Barcelona district where the footballer lives.
They are accused of three counts of defrauding the
Spanish state of taxes.
The income related to Messi's image rights included
contracts with Banco Sabadell, Danone, Adidas, Pepsi-
Cola, Proctor and Gamble, and the Kuwait Food
Company.
In August, the two accused made a payment of 5m
euros to the tax authorities - the 4.16m of the alleged
unpaid tax plus interest.
But state prosecutors are still pursuing the case - as the
tax authorities are taking a much tougher line as a
result of Spain's economic crisis, reports the BBC's
Tom Burridge in Madrid.
Earlier, Messi stated that he and and his father "have
never committed any infringement. We have always
fulfilled all our tax obligations."
Messi's net salary from Barcelona is said to be about
16m euros a year, making him one of the world's most
highly-paid sportspeople.
He has also signed multi-million-dollar endorsements
with commercial sponsors around the world.
Messi's achievements on the field have made him one
of the most marketable in the business.
He came from a modest background and has
overcome a serious health issue, joining Barcelona as a
13-year-old in 2000 and making his first-team debut
only three years later.
But the allegations are a big blow to the prestige of
Messi, who has long been seen as a more humble figure
than most top-class footballers.
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