Messi loses appeal over tax fraud

Lionel Messi has lost his Supreme Court appeal over a tax fraud conviction in Spain.

The court confirmed the 21-month prison sentence handed to Messi for defrauding tax authorities of €4.1 million (£3.5m) from 2007 to 2009.

He is not expected to go to prison because sentences of less than two years for first offences are usually suspended in Spain.

The court maintained the $2m fine handed to the Argentina player in last year’s trial.

Messi’s father, Jorge Horacio Messi, had also been convicted of tax fraud. The court reduced his sentence to 15 months.