Neymar, a star for Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to stand trial for alleged contract fraud when he transferred from Santos to Barcelona in 2013.
The former Barcelona presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, as well as the Brazilian footballer’s parents, are all accused of fraud and corruption in connection with the transfer.
All of the defendants denied the accusations made against them, but the case will now go to trial after their appeals to Spain’s High Court were denied. It is anticipated to finish on October 31, only three weeks before the World Cup in Qatar officially begins.
According to the article, Neymar is allegedly facing a two-year jail sentence and an £8.4 million fine from Spanish authorities.
A complaint made seven years ago by DIS, a Brazilian investment fund that specializes in the football market is what gave rise to the complicated case.
When Neymar left Santos for Barcelona, DIS claimed it was entitled to 40% of the transfer fee.
However, the company asserts that it was underpaid and that Neymar, his family, and Barcelona hid a portion of the transfer fee from them.
Neymar and his father, Neymar da Silva Santos, are also accused of signing two “simulated contracts” with Barcelona that failed to acknowledge that the player’s “federative rights” belonged to the Brazilian team Santos.
One of those contracts, reportedly for £33 million, was allegedly carried out without Santos’ knowledge.
Neymar must be detained and have a five-year football ban imposed upon him, according to DIS. The Daily Mail reports that they are also demanding compensation in the range of £126 million.
In an earlier dispute regarding Neymar’s sale to the Catalan club, Barcelona agreed to pay a fine to the Spanish authorities in 2016 totalling €5.5 million (£4.4 million).
In the meantime, legal disputes also overshadowed Neymar’s £198 million move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.