A Spanish judge has ruled that Barcelona striker Lionel Messi should face a trial for alleged tax evasion.
Lawyers for Messi had appealed for tax charges to be dropped, but it has been decided that the Argentine forward and his father must undergo trial in court over the accusations.
A statement from the judge read: "In this type of crime, it is not necessary for someone to have complete knowledge of all the accounting and business operations nor the exact quantity, rather it is sufficient to be aware of the designs to commit fraud and consent to them."
Messi and his father are accused of withholding €4m in unpaid taxes between 2007 and 2009.
