Messi: Not like father like son

Posted Wednesday, September 11, 2013 by Marca.com

Messi: Not like father like son Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, has sent a letter to the court investigating them both for tax evasion, absolving his son of any responsibility in the management of his tax obligations.

Jorge Messi handed the letter over when he paid the €5 million (€4.1 million plus interest) he owed the Tax Office for suspected tax evasion between 2007 and 2010.

Messi "has always been dedicated solely to playing football," his father claims. In the letter he blames his former business partner, Rodolfo Schinocco, who was in charge of managing the profits generated by the player's image rights from 2005.

In spite of the exculpatory letter and payment of the €4.1 million evaded from the Tax office, Messi and his father still stand accused and will appear before the Judge on the 27th September.

By sending the letter exculpating his son of all responsibility for managing the tax due on his earnings, Jorge Messi has made a step towards having the criminal case against his son shelved.

Even the prosecution recognises that the idea to evade tax came from his father and the player's agent. This is illustrated by the fact that, back in 2005 when Messi was still a minor, his father entrusted a third party to create a holding corporation for alleged tax-evasion purposes.