Barcelona star to stand trial for alleged $4.6m tax fraud

Lionel Messi is not free from his tax scandal as he will have to appear in court to face a judge for the tax fraud trial involving his dad.

The player and his father Jorge are accused of avoiding $4.6m for the tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009 after setting up companies in Belize and Uruguay to manage the player's commercial deals.

During those years, Messi signed contracts with Banc Sabadell, Telefonica, Danone, Air Europa, Adidas and Pepsi for the combined sum of $15m but no tax in Spain was paid on them.

Jorge however argued that his son, Messi was under-age at the time of the alleged tax fraud but a judge has waved the appeal away insisting that the four time Ballon d'Or winner must appear in court to be questioned.

Messi will apear will appear in court to be quizzed by a judge if he knew about the operations and was aware that they were illegal.