Barcelona have been ordered to stand trial over alleged tax fraud linked to the signing of Brazilian striker Neymar.The National Court in Madrid has ordered the trial of Barca’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu, his predecessor Sandro Rosell and the club as a defendant in its own right.
They have always said they paid €57m to sign Neymar from his home club Santos in 2013. The court suspects the actual price was €83m and that Rosell and Bartomeu hid the real cost from the taxman.
Judge Jose de la Mata said in a written ruling there was evidence that they “knew the real cost of the signing of Neymar would be greater” than what they recorded in the club’s 2013 accounts.
The defendants have 10 days to make court filings in their defence, the court said. It did not set a trial date for the time being.
The ruling comes as Barcelona aim for a possible treble in the Spanish league, Spanish cup and Champions League.
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of two years and three months for Bartomeu and seven years for Rosell, as well as a €22.2m fine for the club.
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