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| Photograph: Bagu Blanco/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock |
The Spanish National Court additionally requested on Thursday that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor – Sandro Rosell – be sent to trial.
The asserted "business corruption and fraud" offenses relate with Neymar's transfer to Barcelona from Santos in 2013. All parties included deny any wrongdoing.
Brazilian investment group DIS said it got less money than the 40% it was entitled to from the disputed transfer fee and filed a lawsuit which has brought about a trial that will now proceed after all appeal options were exhausted.
Prosecutors want a two-year jail sentence for Neymar, eight years for Rosell and Bartomeu plus a €195m fine for Barça. That would probably not happen as he is a first-time offender according to the Spanish system
They are also seeking fines of €10million against the Neymar family.
Final appeals against the prosecution proceeding from Neymar, his parents, Barca and Santos had been rejected in February, while Bartomeu’s failed last week, prompting this court order. Bail has been set at €3.4m.
Neymar is not the only Barça star to find himself embroiled in problems with the Spanish authorities.
Defender Javier Mascherano agreed a one-year suspended sentence with authorities for tax fraud this year. Lionel Messi and his father were given 21-month suspended jail sentences in July 2016 for tax fraud relating to the player’s image rights.
