PROSECUTORS SEEKING PRISON FOR NEYMAR

MADRID — Spanish prosecutors want to punish Neymar, his father, Barcelona, and the player’s Brazilian club because of an investment group’s claim that they concealed the value of the star’s transfer fee.

Prosecutors said on Wednesday they are seeking a two-year prison sentence and a $10.6 million fine for Neymar and his father on corruption charges, although they are not likely to face any jail time because in Spain sentences of less than two years for first offences are usually suspended.

Prosecutors also want to punish former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell on corruption and fraud charges, which could lead to up to five years in prison and the same $10.6 million fine. The former president of Brazilian club Santos, Odilio Rodrigues, is facing a three-year prison sentence on fraud charges.

They are all set to stand trial after a complaint brought by Brazilian investment group DIS, which was entitled to 40 percent of Neymar’s transfer from Brazilian club Santos in 2013 but said it received a smaller compensation because part of the transfer fee was concealed.

Prosecutors seek a fine of $8.9 million from Barcelona and $7.4 million from Santos.

DIS has demanded a five-year prison sentence for Neymar and his parents, and an eight-year sentence for Rosell and current Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu. It also seeks a fine from Barcelona that could reach more than $200 million, and wants Neymar to be temporarily suspended from playing if found guilty.

A judge this month accepted charges against Bartomeu, but prosecutors spared him on Wednesday, saying he did not directly participate in the negotiations related to Neymar’s transfer.

Prosecutors said Rosell, Rodrigues, Barcelona, and Santos must repay nearly $3.4 million to DIS.