Lionel Messi, father sentenced to 21-month prison term for tax fraud in Spain

Barcelona: FC Barcelona's Argentine footballer Lionel Messi and his father Jorge Messi have been sentenced to a 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud. 

A Spanish court found Jr Messi guilty on three counts of tax fraud. The Barcelona Provincial Court fined Messi 2 million euros for three tax crimes and ruled that the father-son duo were punishable with 21 months (1 year and 9 months) in prison due to the fraud.

However, as per sources, the father and son will not have to go to prison, because according to Spanish law it is not mandatory for a first offender to go to prison if the sentence is under 2 years.

According to sources, the sentence can be appealed before the Spanish Supreme Court.