Lionel Messi and father Jorge could face 22 months in jail on tax fraud charges

The Barcelona superstar and his father will now stand trial on three counts after the judge rejected a request to try only Jorge

Lionel Messi is set to stand trial on three counts of tax fraud - with a 22-month prison sentence possible if he is found guilty.

The Argentina forward and his father Jorge are accused of defrauding Spanish authorities of over €4million (£2.72m).

It was argued by the prosecutor earlier this week that Messi should not have to answer the charges as his father was the one responsible for his finances.

But the judge in the case rejected the request after lawyers acting on behalf of the tax authorities pleased Messi must also be tried.

Spain's state attorney has now demanded a 22-month jail sentence for the Barcelona superstar.

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Father: Jorge Messi oversaw his son's finances

"There are rational signs that the criminality was committed by both accused parties," said the judge.

Prosecutors have alleged that Jorge used offshore companies in Belize and Uruguay among other places, to avoid paying tax on his son's earnings between 2007 and 2009.

The income is based on Messi's image rights and the court have ruled that the four-time Ballon d'Or winner could have known about - and approved the tax evasion.

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Both are unlikely to end up in jail however, as sentences of less than two years are normally suspended for first time offences in Spain.

After being formally charged in June 2013, Messi and his father paid €5million to the tax authorities as a 'corrective payment'.

The Barca superstar is regarded as one of the world's highest-earning athletes of the past decade, raking in around $350m.

Source: Mirror