Updated 2pm 

ARGENTINA FOOTBALL STAR Lionel Messi today told a Spanish court that his father handled his finances and he knew nothing about how his wealth was managed as he took the stand at his tax fraud trial for the first time.

“I was playing football, I had no idea about anything,” the 28-year-old told the Barcelona court hearing the case on the third day of the trial. “I trusted my dad and my lawyers”, he added.

The 28-year-old arrived at court earlier today wearing a black suit and tie, being cheered and jeered as he emerged from a van accompanied by his father Jorge Horacio Messi.

The two are accused of using a chain of fake companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on €4.16 million of Messi’s income earned through the sale of his image rights from 2007-09.

Dozens of photographers and onlookers crowded behind metal barriers and a line of police that guarded the entrance of the court to catch a glimpse of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“If he cheated, he has to be sentenced no matter how much of an idol and Ballon d’Or winner he is. These are €4 million less to pay for hospitals, schools, firefighters, roads,” Jose Seco de Herrero, 25, told AFP.

“Thief!,” yelled out one onlooker. “Go play in Panama,” cried out another.

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The tax fraud trial comes at a time of simmering voter anger over steep government cuts to health and social spending, as the government struggles to bring Spain’s public deficit down.

The trial is expected to wrap up tomorrow.

After his court appearance in Barcelona, Messi will jet off to the United States where Argentina take on Copa America defending champions Chile in their first game of the three-week tournament in California on Monday.

The high-profile case kicked off on Tuesday without Messi, as he was recovering in his hometown of Rosario in Argentina from a lower back injury he suffered during a friendly match against Honduras last week.

Under Spanish law, a defendant is not obliged to attend the full trial if prosecutors seek a jail sentence of less than two years – as is the case here.

Payment

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The Barcelona forward and his defence team have long argued that Messi’s father handled the footballer’s finances without reporting to him, and the striker was not aware of any wrongdoing.

Both Messi and his father, who has managed his son’s affairs since he was a child, have been charged with three counts of tax fraud.

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a jail sentence of 22-and-a-half months for them if they are found guilty, plus fines equivalent to the amount that was allegedly defrauded.

But any such sentence would likely be suspended as is common in Spain for first offences carrying a sentence of less than two years.

Messi and his father made a voluntary payment of €5 million – equal to the amount of the alleged unpaid taxes plus interest – in August 2013 after being formally investigated, which is expected to mitigate any sentence if they are found guilty.

- First published 10.05am 

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