The law really has a long hand .PSG star Neymar could face up to six years in prison if found guilty of fraud and corruption charges relating to his transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013, according to a Spanish judge.
The charges against Neymar were brought after a complaint made by Brazilian investment firm DIS, who claimed they received a smaller cut of the deal because part of the Brazilian’s transfer fee was unlawfully concealed by the parties involved.
The court’s ruling is more than the two-year sentence prosecutors were seeking for Neymar, who became the world’s most expensive player when he left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £200 million in the summer of 2017.
It also increases the possibility of Neymar facing actual jail time if found guilty; in Spain, sentences of two years or less for first offences are generally suspended.In addition to Neymar, his parents, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, former president Sandro Rosell — who stepped down in 2014 as a result of the scandal — and Santos all face charges relating to the alleged financial irregularities in the transfer. A trial date has not been set and all parties deny any wrongdoing.
Neymar won the Ligue 1 title, the Coupe de France and the Coupe de la Ligue in his first season at PSG, but a foot injury sustained in February cut short his club campaign and contributed to his disappointing World Cup showing as Brazil were eliminated by Belgium at the quarter-final stage.
He has started the new season in impressive form, registering 13 goals and five assists in 14 appearances across all competitions for PSG, and has been included in the 30-man shortlist for the 2018 Ballon d’Or award alongside teammates Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani.