Neymar case: Spanish prosecutor calls for review of FC Barcelona for tax evasion

A complaint concerning Sandro Rosell, the former president of FC Barcelona (Liga BBVA) was considered valid by a magistrate of the prosecution of the National Audience (main Spanish criminal court) on 19/02/2014, and calls for an investigation into the Catalan club regarding the transfer of Neymar.

The court seeks to indict Barça as a legal entity for tax evasion in the transfer of the Brazilian striker. The National Audience estimates that €10m in 2011 and €27.92m in 2013 were left out of transfer figures, thus diverting €9.1m in taxes from the Treasury.

The transfer of Neymar, from Santos (Brazilian Serie A) to FC Barcelona in the offseason of 2013, should have cost €86.2m, Josep Maria Bartomeu, the new president of FC Barcelona, indicated on 24/01/2014.

The reported cost of the transfer was €57.1m, as announced by the club, with €17m paid to Santos and €40m to several companies owned by the family of Neymar. Barça also paid a €10m signing bonus to the player, €2.7m in commission to the agent, €4m for a commercial marketing contract, €2.5m under an agreement between the foundation…