Spanish prosecutors in charge of bringing Lionel Messi and his father to justice have agreed terms of a fine that will prevent the Argentine star of serving a 21-month prison sentence.
The prosecution revealed their decision after months of speculation, although the amount Messi will have to pay has just been set at €510,000. His father, Jorge Messi, who is also accused of defrauding the Spanish tax authority over his son's image rights, will have to pay a €180,000 fine. Messi and his father were accused of failing to pay €4.1M.
The legal basis to have both penalties expunged is that neither one of the Messis can be considered a "violent" criminal.
If the judge hearing this case denies the motion to have both penalties expunged with this payment, the prosecution would accept to drop all charges in order to keep the Messis away from prison, although they would have to avoid being charged with other felonies, or they would have to serve time.
This way, Lionel Messi will be able to celebrate his 30th birthday this Saturday in peace, as he also prepares his wedding with Antonella Roccuzzo, the mother of his two children.
