Spanish court drops charges in the Neymar transfer case
Spanish investigators on Friday dropped one fraud and corruption case against Brazilian superstar Neymar. His father too had relief in relation to the player’s 2013 transfer to Barcelona.
Spanish court drops charges in the Neymar transfer case
Brazilian investment fund DIS had brought the charges. They were former owners of the rights of the the 24-year-old star. He moved to the Nou Camp from Santos in his homeland three years ago.
A judge ruled that the case “could have sporting, ethical and disciplinary repercussions” but said it “cannot be pursued in the criminal courts”, according to a statement by Spain’s High Court.
The ruling comes less than a month after Barcelona accepted to pay a 5.5-million-euro ($6.2 million) fine. They wanted to settle over the contested transfer in a deal with prosecutors. It allowed the club to avoid trial on tax evasion charges.
Barcelona had originally published the fee in the shady transfer as 57.1m euros. Also, 40m euros of that reached the player’s family.
But Spanish authorities perceive the true transfer figure was at least 83m euros.
Santos, the club where Neymar started his career, also received 17.1m euros, 6.8m of which went to DIS.
Barcelona officials had already made a voluntary 13.5m euros tax payment after the alleged tax fraud.
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