Calls for Messi to be acquitted as trial concludes

Lionel Messi's trial where the Barcelona star faces allegations of tax fraud has concluded with a public prosecutor calling for the player's acquittal and the government prosecutor renewing his demand for a conviction.

The four-day trial ended Friday with both prosecutors contending that Messi's father, Jorge Horacio Messi, was the main man responsible for defrauding Spain's tax authority of €4.1million between 2007 and 2009.

However, the legal representative for the tax office said the player had enough knowledge of his tax affairs to be held accountable.

He called for a prison sentence of 22 months for both Messi and his father, while the public prosecutor requested a sentence of 18 months for the father only.

Neither are likely to face a custodial sentence if found guilty, but could be fined and made to forfeit possible future tax benefits.