You can insert whatever 'Barcelona's defence was always a bit dodgy' joke that you deem fit after Spanish authorities hit Javier Mascherano with a one year jail term and €815,000 fine over unpaid tax issues stretching back to 2011.
It has been alleged that he used offshore companies to hide earnings made in relation to his image rights. The Argentine defender/midfielder had admitted to two counts of tax fraud in relation to a failure to declare earnings to the tune of €1.5 million between 2011 and 2012.
Mascherano has since paid back that amount in full plus interest. However, according to reports coming out of Spain, the 31 year old has appeared before a Catalan court today and been handed a rather significant slap on the wrist.
Having said that, the legal system in Spain would suggest that it is very unlikely that the Barcelona man will actually serve any time behind bars. Instead, his lawyer, David Aineto, has filled a motion requesting the suspension of that jail term and for an additional fine to be imposed instead.
Mascherano has since released a statement via his twitter account, saying;
I'm a sporting professional, I don't have a great understanding of taxes and law. To deal with what are for me technical and complicated matters, I have to rely on other people.
Throughout all my career I have been an honest person, responsible and respectful of my team-mates and the clubs that I have played for and the countries I have lived in.
In addition to Mascherano, the tax affairs of both Lionel Messi and Neymar have been placed under a considerable amount of scrutiny in recent months. Just this week, Messi was told that he would stand trial alongside his father at the end of May over a similar matter relating to undeclared incoming stemming from image rights.
Messi has already paid back somewhere in the region of €5 million as a 'corrective measure'.
Here's Mascherano's full statement for our fluent in Spanish contingent.
— Javier Mascherano (@Mascherano) January 21, 2016
UPDATE: It has since been revealed that Mascherano is not likely to spend time behind bars. Mascherano has reached an agreement with the Spanish tax authorities to avoid a prison sentence . Mascherano released the following statement:
I want to clarify some issues related to recent news about myself.
As of today, I have reached an agreement with the Spanish tax authorities. As such, with the legal side resolved and with the confidence of having sorted my financial situation, I want to issue a short explanation.
After agreeing to come to Barcelona, I hired a prestigious Spanish tax firm, with renowned professionals and an excellent reputation. In agreement with my situation, they recommended certain structures to me, all within the legal framework, always notifying me that the procedures were common, transparent and in accordance with the law.
I was advised by said professionals from the year 2010 until 2014, when I decided to change firms before the process was opened against me and with evidence that my problem was no longer a possibility but a reality.
My new advisors recommended I pay the taxes demanded by the Treasury, presenting what they called 'corrections'.
Now, finally and following a bitter delay, we have reached this agreement, which restores to me the peace of mind of having fulfilled my obligations.
Mascherano has also indicated he may launch legal action against the financial advisers who have left him in this situation.
