Neymar acquitted of fraud allegations in Spain

Spanish justice acquitted Neymar, 30, and the rest of those prosecuted for alleged irregularities committed in his transfer to Barcelona in 2013.

The decision is in line with the criteria of the Spanish Public Ministry, which had already withdrawn its accusations in the final stretch of the trial, which took place in October.

“The Hearing acquits Neymar and the rest of those prosecuted for private corruption,” said the court of the Hearing of Barcelona, ​​in a statement on the sentence published this Tuesday (13), which acquits all those indicted by the Brazilian company DIS, owned by Delcir. and Idi Probe.

The trial, which began a month before the start of the World Cup, is good news for Neymar, just days after the painful elimination of the Brazilian national team against Croatia, in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Cup.

The expectation was already of relief for the player since the Public Ministry —which initially asked him for two years in prison and a fine of 10 million euros (56 million reais)—surprised on the penultimate day of hearings, withdrawing all charges against him. the defendants.

Opinion that the magistrates also shared, according to the judgment.

“From the evidence carried out, there is no evidence that the player has received a bribe and/or that he has been required to sign for Fútbol Club Barcelona. The prosecution makes deductions that are nothing more than mere suspicion. They are not evidence of criminality”, they claim.

In addition to Neymar and his parents, two former presidents of Barça —Sandro Rosell and Josep María Bartomeu— and the former president of Santos, Odílio Rodrigues Filho, as well as FC Barcelona itself, Santos and the company that manages it, were exonerated. Neymar’s career in this long process initiated seven years ago by DIS.

The Brazilian company, which owned 40% of Neymar’s federal rights when he was still a promise from Santos, had appealed to the Spanish court in 2015 accusing Barça, the player and his family —later also the club from São Paulo— of having deceived and hidden it the real value of the millionaire transfer.

DIS also scolded them for not being informed about an alleged exclusivity contract signed in 2011 with Barça, which would have tampered with free competition for the signing of the promising striker.

But the Public Ministry, which initially shared part of the DIS accusations, ended up considering that the accusations were not based on “not even circumstantial” evidence, but on “suppositions”, and that it was more of a civil case than a criminal one.

With his unexpected turn of events, the Barcelona prosecutor contradicted the view of his colleagues in Madrid, where the journey of this complex case had begun, which was eventually referred to the Court of Barcelona.

Although the change in the Public Ministry did not determine the final decision, it dealt a heavy blow to the prosecution, which was left only in the hands of the DIS, thanks to the fact that the Spanish legal system allows the alleged victim of a crime to appear as the accuser in a process.

Finally, the Brazilian fund ended up also overturning its request for two years and six months in prison for Neymar, out of the five that he initially asked for.

The trial brought the striker back to the city of Barcelona, ​​which he left abruptly in 2017 for Paris Saint-Germain.

In his brief statement before the court, a serene “Ney” assured that he only signed the documents that were indicated to him by his father, in whom he fully trusts.

The striker said he had not participated in any negotiations, but that his will was always clear: to fulfill his dream and sign for Barça, discarding offers like Real Madrid.

This operation would end up becoming, however, a mixed legal saga that has lasted almost a decade.

Although Barça initially estimated his signing at 57.1 million euros (40 million for the family and 17.1 for Santos), the Spanish court estimated that he reached at least 83 million.

For DIS, which received 6.8 million of the official amount paid by the Brazilian club, the Catalan team, Neymar and later Santos hid them through various camouflaged contracts around 35 million euros that they are now claiming in court.

The controversial operation has already earned Barça a fine of 5.5 million euros for tax irregularities, in addition to several cross-demands with Neymar after his prominent march to PSG.

Finally, the entity and the 10 of the selection reached an agreement “in an amicable way” last year to close all pending processes.