Neymar faces up to six years in prison in fraud case | OneFootball

Brazilian superstar Neymar is caught up in a corruption scandal and faces up to six years in prison in Spain.

A report from judge Jose Maria Vazquez Honrubia was presented to news agency AFP on Wednesday, detailing the possibility of Neymar serving time.

Neymar’s parents, LaLiga champions Barcelona, president Josep Bartomeu and former president Sandro Rosell will all have to face the court. Santos and former president Odilio Rodrigues Filho have also been charged.

If found guilty, Neymar could be sentenced to between four and six years in prison, report Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia.

The case involves Neymar’s 2013 transfer from Santos to Barcelona.

The Spanish club originally claimed they paid just €57m for the Brazilian, with €40m of that going to his family. However, the court have reason to believe Barcelona actually paid up to €83m for the player and avoided large tax payments by claiming the fee was lower.

Neymar’s case has now been moved to Spain’s Criminal Chamber, meaning it is being treated as serious and it is now possible he will be sentenced to over five years if found guilty.

There is currently no date set for the hearing, which will take place in front of three magistrates.

Neymar now plays for Paris Saint-Germain after he completed a world record €222m move in the summer of 2017.