Lionel Messi and his father handed jail term in Spain

Baku. 6 July. REPORT.AZ/ Argentina and Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for tax fraud, Report informs citing Reuters.

His father, Jorge Messi, was also given a jail term for defrauding Spain of €4.1m  between 2007 and 2009.

They also face millions of euros in fines for using tax havens in Belize and Uruguay used to conceal earnings from image rights.

However, they are likely to avoid jail.

Under the Spanish system, prison terms under two years can be served under probation.

The footballer and his father were found guilty of three counts of tax fraud in Wednesday's ruling by the court in Barcelona.

According to the court, Messi fined € 2 million, his father - € 1.5 million.