Javier Mascherano expected to avoid one-year prison sentence for tax offences in Spain

'Illegal practices': Mascherano has blamed the firm he appointed to handle his taxes
(JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)
Tales Azzoni22 January 2016

Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano was handed a one-year prison sentence Thursday for tax offences in Spain, although he is not expected to serve jail time.

Mascherano was also fined nearly £428,000 and prevented from receiving any tax benefits for a year. The prison sentence is expected to be replaced by another fine or dismissed entirely.

The sentencing came nearly three months after the Barcelona defender had reached a deal with prosecutors and the attorney's office for failing to pay nearly £1.1m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. He already paid back everything he owed.

The Argentine player, who has played for Barcelona since 2010, was accused by Spain's tax office of concealing part of what he earned in image rights.

In a statement, Mascherano said he got into trouble after following the advice of the people he hired to manage his taxes after arriving in Spain. He said he had thought everything was being done under the law.

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"This deal gives me back the tranquility to know that I am up to date with my obligations," he said. "During my entire career I have been honest and responsible. I take this as another experience, and I come out of it stronger and in peace knowing that I'm doing things the right away again."

Barcelona published the player's full statement on its website.

Mascherano said he may take legal action against the tax consultants that he originally hired who, he said, "recommended what was not legalu."

The player spent only a few minutes in court on Thursday as the sentencing was announced.

"The situation is that Javier Mascherano has been sentenced today due to accusations that he has accepted," said one of the player's lawyers, David Aineto. "He has been sentenced because of those accusations and he has accepted the verdict of the justice. Now he has to pay the fine and the Mascherano case will be closed."

The judge is expected to decide in the next few days whether the prison sentence will be replaced by a fine of about £16,000 or it will be dismissed.

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