Messi Sentenced to Jail

Cosimo · 6 Jul 2016 at 11:57

BBC breaking - 21months for tax fraud!

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36721892

nemtizz · 6 Jul 2016 at 11:58

Under Spanish law, sentences fewer than two-years can be suspended.

Steedie · 6 Jul 2016 at 11:59

Shame he won't spend a day inside

robfosters · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:00

nemtizz said:
Under Spanish law, sentences fewer than two-years can be suspended.

Boo hiss!

HACO · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:02

Unlike most of us, when these people are sentenced they don't see inside of a prison cell.

FiremanSam · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:20

Does this mean as a foreigner with a criminal record he will never be able to play in the UK?

NexusK · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:23

HACO said:
Unlike most of us, when these people are sentenced they don't see inside of a prison cell.

That's not the case at all, this is just the way it works in Spain.

robfosters · 6 Jul 2016 at 12:38

FiremanSam said:
Does this mean as a foreigner with a criminal record he will never be able to play in the UK?

Might put to an end any hopes of a multi million pound MLS gig.

Steedie · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:13

Hopefully he'll not be eligible for the Ballon D'Or from now on or at least for the duration of the 21 months. If FIFA want to keep harping on about role models, then surely giving a prize like that to a convicted criminal is a mental idea?

Artery · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:15

So basically got away with the minimum sentence, somehow got out of jail time. Wonder if he wasn't famous how long he'd have got?

Ayahuasca · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:26

Sentence is a joke considering the money involved, I knew a contractor over here who got 5 years with nowhere near that amount.

Mark1989 · 6 Jul 2016 at 13:28

So yet another rich person in life gets off easy shock horror, his fine is likely what he also earns within 1 month!

mmj_uk · 6 Jul 2016 at 15:34

However, neither man is expected to serve time in jail.

If he was Joe Public on welfare and had defrauded the state of 50 Euros he'd probably have gotten the book thrown at him. As soon as I read the title I knew that there was no way in hell he would end up actually going to jail.

FoxEye · 6 Jul 2016 at 20:51

nemtizz said:
Under Spanish law, sentences fewer than two-years can be suspended.

And you suspect that they made absolutely sure the sentence was under that magic two year mark.

McBain · 6 Jul 2016 at 20:58

Jail term that doesn't actually mean jail, so why even call it a jail term?

JanM · 6 Jul 2016 at 22:20

nemtizz said:
Under Spanish law, sentences fewer than two-years can be suspended.

Whats the point of sentencing someone to jail then. :rolleyes:

Hate it when the rich folk get a tap on the wrist.

HangTime · 7 Jul 2016 at 16:13

I think it's been announced that he'll appeal it... hopefully they whack another 4 months on the sentence for a frivolous appeal

BaZ87 · 7 Jul 2016 at 16:23

McBain said:
Jail term that doesn't actually mean jail, so why even call it a jail term?

He's been sentenced to go to jail, he's appealing and hoping to get the sentence suspended.

JanM said:
Whats the point of sentencing someone to jail then.

Hate it when the rich folk get a tap on the wrist.

Messi isn't getting any special treatment. If he successfully gets his sentence suspended, he'd be in the same boat as the vast majority of first time offenders who were sentenced to less than 2 years in prison.

I read a sports lawyers views on this yesterday and according to him, a survey in 2002 found that 98.5% of first time offenders with sub 2 year sentences succefully got their sentence suspended.

JanM · 7 Jul 2016 at 22:14

BaZ87 said:
He's been sentenced to go to jail, he's appealing and hoping to get the sentence suspended.

Messi isn't getting any special treatment. If he successfully gets his sentence suspended, he'd be in the same boat as the vast majority of first time offenders who were sentenced to less than 2 years in prison.

I read a sports lawyers views on this yesterday and according to him, a survey in 2002 found that 98.5% of first time offenders with sub 2 year sentences succefully got their sentence suspended.

Hes getting special treatment alright, people have been sentenced for far longer then 2 years for much less.

BaZ87 · 7 Jul 2016 at 23:35

JanM said:
Hes getting special treatment alright, people have been sentenced for far longer then 2 years for much less.

Really? You followed the case and know the ins and outs of what happened?