Spanish prosecutors have requested that legal action be taken against Brazilian football superstar Neymar over alleged fraud surrounding his transfer to Barcelona.
“The prosecutor… considers it appropriate for him as to appear as accused,” the court, which specialises in financial affairs and terrorism, declared on Friday.
Legal action was also requested against the footballer’s father, Neymar Sr, as well as the club’s former president Sandro Rosell and his successor Josep Maria Bartomeu, and former officials Luis Alvaro de Oliveira and Odilio Rodriguez.
An investigation was opened after a complaint of “fraud” and “corruption” filed by the Brazilian investment fund DIS, which held 40 percent of Neymar’s sports rights when he played at Santos.
DIS, which had also filed a complaint in Brazil, has claimed it was cheated of its real share of the benefits of 23-year-old Neymar’s transfer in 2013, which it insists was minimised by Barca and Santos.
The deal was originally valued at 57.1 million euros ($62.1 million) by the Catalan club. But the Spanish judicial authorities have estimated the amount to be at least 83.3 million.
A Brazilian court has also taken action freezing $47 million in assets belonging to Neymar over tax evasion allegations between 2011 and 2013. – Agence France-Presse
