MADRID: The Spanish public prosecutor is demanding prison sentences for Barcelona’s past and present presidents and a fine for the club over tax evasion allegations over the Neymar transfer writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Terms of two years and three months are being sought for Sandro Rosell and Josep Bartomeu plus a €20m penalty for the current league leaders.

Last month judge Pablo Ruz approved the pursuit of legal action in the case sparked by the revelation of secret contracts and clauses in the complex financial transaction which led to Barcelona buying the Brazil superstar from Santos in the summer of 2013.

The alleged tax fraud runs into a total sums of €2.8m which should have been paid by Barcelona under the terms of contracts signed on June 3 and July 31, 2013, but never declared in their entirety to the tax authorities.

The club also negotiated a €234m image rights deal plus an €11.7 contract with Neymar’s father.

Barcelona, in a formal club statement, said it was “indignant” at the accusations.

The cost of the Neymar deal has been calculated at €95m, a sum denied by Barcelona which had claimed a valuation at €57m. Later the club conceded that the contract had been worth €86.2m.

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