Barcelona star Neymar ordered to pay £36m after being found guilty of tax fraud in Brazil

Brazilian court ruled Neymar was guilty of tax evasion between 2012-14
Barcelona star must pay £36m in back taxes, interest and fines
Brazil star is also being investigated in Spain over transfer from Santos

Published:
09:52 GMT, 19 March 2016

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Updated:
11:41 GMT, 19 March 2016

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A Brazilian court has found Neymar guilty of tax evasion – ordering the Barcelona superstar to pay over £36million in back taxes, interest and fines.

The ruling states that the Brazil captain failed to pay tax in Brazil on his earnings from former club Santos as well as Barcelona and Nike endorsements between 2011-13.

According to the court documents, the 24-year-old used his businesses, set up with his father Neymar da Silva, to conceal £11m in taxes between 2012 and 2014. In addition to unpaid taxes, the federal court judge in Rio de Janeiro added a further £25m in interest and fines.

Brazilian sensation Neymar has been ordered to pay £36m in back taxes, interest and fines in Brazil

Spanish daily newspaper Marca reports ‘A Fine Which Makes Your Hair Stand Up’ after the ruling

The Barcelona forward was found guilty of tax evasion, although he can decide to appeal the ruling

‘We studied the information regarding the tax case in question, Neymar, the three businesses and his business partners [parents of the player] and we found that there were fraudulent business practices,’ wrote Develly Claudia Montez, who performed the audit for the court.

Although he has not made a statement, Neymar had denied the charges and he can still appeal the decision to a higher court.

Last month, a Brazilian court move to freeze £32m worth of the layer’s assets, which included a private jet, yacht and several properties in Brazil.

Neymar is also being investigated in Spain over his transfer from Brazilian club Santos in 2013

The case in Brazil is separate to an investigation in Spain over his transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013 – launched after Brazilian investment fund DIS, who owned 40 per cent of the player’s sporting rights, complained it was cheated out of its share of the transfer.

Barcelona had originally valued the transfer at £44m, but Spanish prosecutors argue the real figure was closer to £65m – with claims the difference was absorbed by Neymar’s companies Neymar Sport e Marketing, N & N Consultoria and N & N Administracao de Bens.

Neymar, his father as well as Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor, Sandro Rosell were called to the Spanish High Court earlier this year.