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We shall offer Messi all the support he needs regarding the Panama Papers Leak - Barcelona

By CNN
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Leading European football club Barcelona has promised to give its star player Lionel Messi legal and financial support, as the Argentine international considers whether to sue after he was linked to the Panama Papers leak.


 

The papers -- released Sunday -- implicate several high-ranking government officials, including a member of FIFA's ethics committee as well as a number of prominent sport stars.

The more-than 11 million documents, which date back four decades, are allegedly connected to Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which published the 2.6 terabytes of leaked data, reports that the firm helped establish secret shell companies and offshore accounts for global power players.

CNN is unable to independently verify the reports and is seeking comment from the most prominent figures mentioned. They are spread across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.

While owning an offshore account is not necessarily illegal, El Confidencial reports Messi, who is widely considered to be the world's best player, set up "a tax fraud network" by using Panama company Mega Star Enterprises to avoid paying tax on image rights deals. The Madrid-based newspaper was part of the ICIJ investigative team.

Documents posted online by the Spanish newspaper show both the signatures of Messi and his father, Jorge, in acquiring Mega Star.

Messi has been key to Barcelona's success over the past decade, and the club was quick to express its backing for its leading player.

"Since the very first moment that the 'Panama Papers' which accuse Leo Messi were released, FC Barcelona has sent its affection and support to the player and to his whole family," said Barcelona in a statement released Monday.

 

"The club makes all of its judicial means, fiscal and administrative, at the family's disposal in order to make his actions and honor clear in this case."

CNN