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Four times the best planet footballer Lionel Messi's father is convinced that some media outlets are rushing to draw conclusions regarding allegations against the football player.
Last week, the newspaper "El Periodico" in Catalonia, and soon other publications and internet portals, reported that the Spanish tax authorities suspect the "Barcelona" football player and his father, Jorge Messi, of hiding about 4 million euros in taxes.
According to reports, authorities conducting the investigation were interested in the period from 2006 to 2009. It is believed that part of the football player's income was transferred to companies in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belize, and Uruguay, without paying taxes in Spain.
No official charges have been filed yet against either L. Messi or his father Jorge. However, both of them are scheduled to present their explanations in the court of Gava municipality on September 17.
In an interview with the radio station "Cade Cope," the football player's father noted that journalists often rush to form a negative opinion about such events and thus try to harm his son's reputation.
"I can assure you that Lionel pays all his mandatory taxes every year. His finances are managed by responsible individuals. The amount paid per year consists of two digits, followed by six zeros," stated J. Messi.
According to the player's father, both he and his son are absolutely calm. The Argentine player's lawyers have already provided certain explanations and released several public statements.
"It is normal for tax inspection authorities to have additional questions, uncertainties, and misunderstandings when significant amounts are paid into the budget, but sometimes the media can be very vicious. They rush to judge immediately without considering our opinion, and some articles are even filled with hatred. We know what to do once we finish clearing up all the matters," said the football player's father, clearly indicating that journalists may also be summoned to court for defamation.
Some Spanish football commentators agree with L. Messi's father.
According to them, the public can convict anyone immediately - all they have to do is read the information in the press, sometimes just the headline. However, the absolute majority of readers forget that justice is served not by journalists, but by courts, and a person becomes guilty not when the press writes about them.
"Many similar things are distorted in the minds of ordinary people. An article appears in the media, the public immediately decides that the person is guilty and he has to go to court to prove his innocence. However, everything should be the other way around - journalists cannot prove guilt, only the court can. And until the court proves guilt, any person is innocent," notes Joan Vehilsas from "Sport.es."
