Lionel Messi has vowed to fight allegations that he and his father are guilty of defrauding the Spanish government of £3.4million.
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A document, presented to a court in Catalonia on Wednesday, brings a complaint against the Barcelona superstar and his father Jorge Horacio Messi.
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Both are accused of three offences against the public purse for allegedly defrauding income tax returns during the years 2007, 2008 and 2009.
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But Messi has hit back at the claims, insisting he and his dad are innocent, and that they will fight the claims.
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'We have just known through the media about the claim filed by the Spanish tax authorities,' he said in a statement on Facebook.
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'We are surprised about the news, because we have never committed any infringement.
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'We have always fulfilled all our tax obligations, following the advice of our tax consultants, who will take care of clarifying this situation.'
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A judge at the courthouse must accept the prosecutor's lawsuit before charges can be brought against Messi and his father.
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The current World Player of the Year is on an estimated £13.5m-a-year salary at Barcelona.
I believe Lionel Messi is more than that offence. I will have to agree with what he has said...Great one.