Barcelona issues statement regarding accusations of tax fraud against Lionel Messi

Barcelona is standing by Lionel Messi.

After Spain's state attorney accused Messi of three cases of tax fraud and demanded a 22-month jail sentence, the Catalan club issued a three-point statement Friday in which it offered the Argentinian phenom "full support and assistance in the legal, fiscal, and administrative aspects" of the proceedings.

From Barcelona's statement:

1.- The Club expresses its surprise at the difference in criteria between the Public Prosecutors, which on September 25 decided not to accuse Lionel Messi of tax fraud, and the verdict expressed today by the State Attorney, which states the complete opposite.

2.- FC Barcelona has expressed its affection and solidarity to Leo Messi and his family in such a peculiar situation. The Club shall continue to offer him and his family its full support and assistance in the legal, fiscal and administrative aspects of these proceedings.

3.- FC Barcelona decries the accumulation of totally inadmissible and external decisions that have been going on for some time, and that have nothing to with strictly sporting affairs. They are damaging to the good operations of the Club, its stability and also that of the athletes that form part of it. The Club shall be working with more determination than ever to defend its legitimate rights and is ready for any new challenges that might arise.

The state attorney's accusations marked a U-turn from three days ago, when the Barcelona public prosecutor dropped the case against Messi and charged his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, who manages his finances, believing the player didn't know about the scam.

In June, the Barcelona Provincial High Court argued that ignorance shouldn't result in impunity for someone who benefits from fraudulent activity.

Messi's father faces three counts of tax fraud committed in 2007, 2008, and 2009, and is alleged to have created a web of shell companies that simulated the handing over of his son's image rights and defrauded the Spanish Tax Agency of €4.1 million in income tax.