Spain’s Supreme Court has upheld the acquittal of
Brazilian football star Neymar Jr, along with former FC Barcelona presidents
Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, over allegations of fraud and
corruption linked to Neymar’s 2013 transfer from Santos FC.
The court’s Criminal Chamber rejected an appeal
against a 2022 ruling by the Barcelona Provincial Court, which had already
determined that no criminal wrongdoing occurred during the transfer process.
In its judgment, the Supreme Court stated that the
established facts demonstrated “the inconsistency of the prosecution’s case,”
adding that there was no evidence of fraud or corruption involving the player,
his representatives, or the club.
Prosecutors had earlier sought a two-year prison
sentence for Neymar and a €10 million fine. The case was brought by Brazilian
investment firm DIS, which owned 40% of Neymar’s economic rights during his
time at Santos FC.
DIS claimed it lost out financially because the
transfer fee was allegedly undervalued. The firm received €6.8
million—representing 40% of the officially declared €17.1 million transfer
fee—but argued that Neymar’s true market value was higher than reported.
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the long-running
legal dispute surrounding the high-profile transfer has now been concluded,
with all parties cleared of wrongdoing.
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