Neymar Maintains Innocence in $16M Tax Evasion Case

Brazilian striker Neymar is currently accused of tax evasion amounting to $16 million, and has had $48 million of his assets frozen pending a decision by a Brazilian court. News of the case broke in January of this year, after a discrepancy was noted in the much publicized transfer of Neymar from Spanish football club Santos to Barcelona FC in 2013. Although the transfer fee was reported to be €57 million ($63m) at the time, it has since been suggested that the fee was actually closer to €100 million ($110m) when a number of undisclosed payments are also included.
Supporting the case is the fact Barcelona FC’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently admitted that the transfer did cost more than the officially publicized figure, and that the soccer club recently paid €5.5 million ($6m) to settle a related matter in a Spanish court. In the meantime, Neymar’s tax evasion case is still ongoing in Brazil, but the 24 year-old soccer star is confident that he has done no wrong, and as he recently told Brazilian publication, Isto E:
“These matters do not disturb me. My father deals with everything outside of the pitch and I have complete confidence in him. I have not done anything wrong. I’m not a criminal. Unfortunately, some people are always trying to create controversy. I do not know whether they do not have the right information or if they have bad intentions.”
In the meantime, its business as usual for the PokerStars pro, who is expected to enter the EPT Barcelona taking place later this year from Aug 16-28. In 2015, Neymar entered several events at the series including the €25,500 High Roller which he eventually busted out of at the hands of Australian pro Jeff Rossiter. In May, Neymar also appeared in a PokerStars commercial in which martial arts experts and Neymar were seen showcasing a combination of capoeira moves and soccer skills, whilst also highlighting Brazilian culture ahead of the Rio Olympics.