Spanish court drops tax fraud probe into Messi friendlies

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Coruna at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/ Emilio Morenatti)

MADRID — A Spanish court has dropped a tax fraud investigation into Lionel Messi and his foundation linked to six friendly matches.

A Barcelona court said Monday it was satisfied neither the Argentinian footballer nor the Lionel Messi Foundation were involved in trying to defraud Spain’s tax office in this instance.

Spain’s Prosecutor had asked the court to investigate possible tax offenses over games held between June 16, 2012 and July 6, 2013 in the United States, Mexico, Colombia and Peru.

A judge had taken testimony from businessman Guillermo Javier Marin, who organized the matches, Monday’s statement said.

The statement said Marin had presented the judge with a “coherent explanation” relating to wire transfers totaling $1.37 million dollars.

This is one of three cases of unpaid taxes that Messi has had to face.