Neymar to stand trial on corruption, fraud charges in Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain, Jul 27 (EFE).- Neymar Jr will stand trial in October on charges of fraud relating to his transfer from Brazilian club Santos to FC Barcelona nine years ago.
The Brazilian footballer will be joined in the dock by his parents and former FC Barcelona presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell over alleged financial irregularities in his 2013 signing.
Legal sources confirmed to Efe Wednesday that the defendants could face prison sentences for two alleged crimes of corruption between individuals and fraud by simulated contract during the negotiations that culminated in Neymar’s move to Barcelona in 2013.
The case was opened following a complaint by the investment fund DIS Esportes e Organização de Eventos LTDA, which held 40% of Neymar’s rights and accused Rosell and Bartomeu — at the time vice president — of not paying everything it was owed for Neymar’s transfer to FC Barcelona.
The Federation of Professional Sportsmen’s Associations of Brazil, which has joined DIS in the prosecution, also believes that it is owed a percentage of the transfer fees.
The prosecution is calling for two years in prison and a 10 million euro ($10.15 million) fine for Neymar, who is currently playing for French club Paris Saint-Germain, as well as a five-year prison sentence for Sandro Rosell.
It is also calling for Neymar’s father and mother to be sentenced to two years and one year in prison respectively for alleged corruption, and a fine of 1.4 million euros for the family company N&N.
Josep Maria Bartomeu, who at the time was vice-president of the Catalan club, is only accused by DIS, which is asking for five years in prison.
The case addressed by the Barcelona Court is the so-called “Neymar 2”, since the “Neymar 1” case culminated in an agreement with the Barcelona court for which Barça paid 5.5 million euros and was convicted of two tax offenses, exempting Rosell and Bartomeu from liability. EFE
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