Ex Barcelona Star Found Guilty of Tax Fraud, Sentenced to 22 Months Suspended Prison Sentence in Spain

• Cameroon FA President, Samuel Eto'o has been given a 22-month suspended prison sentence for tax fraud committed while in Spain
• Eto'o had admitted to tax fraud of £3.32million during his time playing for Barcelona between 2006 and 2009
• The four-time Africa footballer of the year winner has vowed he would repay all of the money and an additional sum of £1.56million in fines

Samuel Eto’o has been handed a 22-months prison sentence in Spain after the 41-year-old was found guilty of tax fraud totalling up to £3.32million.

The sentence was however suspended by the court after the former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward had revealed he was a victim of manipulation.

The Cameroon FA president had been accused of failing to declare income derived from the transfer of image rights to Puma and Barcelona in his personal income tax return between 2006 and 2009.

Barcelona offers youngster Gavi new 5 year deal, inserts €1billion release clause in new contract

Football

According to Daily Mail, Eto’o had instead taxed the image rights through two companies; one in Hungary and the other in Spain so he was not taxed as heavily.

Eto’o has agreed to pay all he owes the Spanish authorities and will also have to pay £1.56million as fines while his agent, Jose Maria Mesalles was also fined £776,000.

Etoó blames agent for tax evasion charges

Meanwhile, Samuel Eto’o has absorbed himself from any reasonability after he was found guilty of tax fraud in Spain putting the blame entirely on his former agent Jose Maria Mesalles.

According to Caught Offside, the 41-year-old insisted his former agent influenced his decisions because he had always seen Mesalles as a father figure and was taken advantage of.

Mesalles has a history of deception, and after Eto'o filed a civil lawsuit against him, he was convicted on criminal charges of tax fraud, swindling, and embezzlement.

Young Chelsea star sets sights on representing Bafana Bafana in the future, hampered by paperwork

Football

Woman to drag Samuel Eto’o to court

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o could be dragged to court again for ignoring a ruling confirming he is the father of a 22-year-old lady.

The former Barcelona striker could face fresh legal action as he is yet to take responsibility and make payments to the family.

The FECAFOOT president has never accepted that he is the biological father of Erika Do Rosario Nieves and failed to attend court sessions, which came to a conclusion in February.