Neymar ordered to pay £35 million over unpaid taxes

Neymar has been found guilty of tax evasion by a Brazilian court, which ordered the Barcelona and Brazil star to pay 188.8 Brazilian reais (£36m) in back taxes, interest and fines.

The judge at a federal court in Rio de Janeiro ruled that the 24-year-old had failed to pay the tax due in Brazil on earnings from his contracts with former club Santos, Barcelona and Nike during the 2011-2013 period.

Neymar’s extremely lucrative 2013 move from Brazilian club Santos to FC Barcelona is also being investigated by a court in Spain owing to allegations that directors at the two clubs and the player connived to conceal the full cost of the transfer.  

According to the ruling, revealed on Friday by Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo, the Barça star used three companies he had set up along with his father, Neymar da Silva, to conceal £11 million in taxes.

Apart from the taxes not paid by Neymar Sport & Marketing, N&N Consultoria, and N&N Administração de Bens, the judge added a further £25 million in interest and fines to the amount the player must cough up.

Neymar had denied the charges and he can still appeal the decision to a higher court.

Source :Telegraph