MADRID: Neymar has been found guilty of tax evasion by a Brazilian court, which ordered the Barcelona and Brazil striker to pay pounds 36 million in back taxes, interest and fines.
The judge at a federal court in Rio de Janeiro ruled that the 24-year-old had failed to pay the tax due in Brazil on earnings from his contracts with former club Santos, Barcelona and sponsors Nike during the 2011-2013 period.
Neymar's lucrative move from Santos to Barcelona in 2013 is also being investigated by a Spanish court, because of allegations that directors at the two clubs and the player connived to conceal the full cost of the transfer.
According to the ruling, revealed yesterday by a Brazilian newspaper, Neymar used three companies he had set up along with his father, Neymar da Silva, to conceal pounds 11?million in taxes.
Apart from the unpaid taxes, the judge added a further pounds 25 million in interest and fines.
Neymar had denied the charges and he can still appeal the decision to a higher court.
The player, who scored in Barcelona's Champions League victory over Arsenal this week, made no comment yesterday. Last month a court in Brazil moved to freeze pounds 32 million worth of assets belonging to Neymar, including the forward's private jet, a yacht and several properties in Brazil.
The ruling will not halt a separate fraud probe being investigated in Spain, based on a complaint by a Brazilian investment fund.