JAVIER MASCHERANO TO SPEND A YEAR IN JAIL FOR TAX FRAUD

Barcelona defensive midfielder, Javier Mascherano has been sentenced to a year term in prison and fined €815,000 (£625,000) for two tax related fraud but it can be revealed that the Argentine is not likely to be spending a year behind bars. His lawyer David Aineto requested the prison sentence to be substituted for the fine, which he is yet to pay.

In Spain, people handed sentences of less than two years are not normally required to serve their sentence  if they agree to a fine unless they are being punished for violent crime.

  

Mascherano's lawyer is also attempting to have the offences removed from his criminal record as well by paying an additional fine. The 31 years old Argentine is not the only Barcelona footballer who is having financial problems, with Messi set for a court appearance later this year after he and his father were also charged with tax fraud through image rights arrangements.

Mascherano, 31, was given four-month and eight-month sentences for the two offences which took place in 2011 and 2012.

The Argentine star had already repaid the full €1.6million (£1.15million) debt owed to the tax authorities before he was given his punishment.

PHOTO CREDIT: AFP/Getty Images