The hearing on Thursday lasted only 10 minutes, according to reports in Spain
Argentina international and Barcelona FC midfielder Javier Mascherano, has sentences to one-year jail term and fined of €815,000 (£625,000) for two tax offences in Spanish capital Madrid, over his tax invasion fraud in 2011 and 2012.
According to reports, it likely that the Barcelona star player will spend one year behind bar, while his lawyer David Aineto, has requested for substitution of fine over his prison term.
However, in Spain people who handed with with less down two-year jail term are meant to serve their punishment unless they are being punished for violent crime, if they agree to a fine.
Javier Mascherano leaves court in Barcelona on Thursday after admitting two counts of tax fraud
Mascherano, 31, was given four-month and eight-month sentences for the two offences which took place in 2011 and 2012.
The Argentine star had already repaid the full €1.6million (£1.15million) debt owed to the tax authorities before he was given his punishment today.
Javier, pen an open letter which was published online, where he address the issue and also claimed he will be back stronger.
Mascherano (left), who paid the amount with interest last year, has to pay a fine of £625,000
‘I am a professional athlete, I have no great knowledge of tax and legal issues. Therefore, I’m helped by people that handles these issues, which for me are complex.
‘Throughout my career I was an honest and responsible person, respecting my colleagues, the clubs I represent and the countries in which I lived.
‘This situation I’m going through is another experience, from which I will come out stronger, and very calm as I am once again within the law.
‘I reserve the possibility of action against those who advised me badly by recommending me something which was not right.’
Mascherano was handed a four-month sentence and an eight-month sentence for the separate offences
His fellow team mates and 5 times FIFA World Player of the Year winner Messi is also on tax invasion trial, alongside with his father. His own trail is schedule for May 31-June 3, while another Barcelona player Neymar had over £30m of assets frozen after being accused of not paying all his taxes.
The Barcelona and Argentina player was handed a one-year prison sentence, which will not be applied
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