Neymar has lost his final appeal against corruption charges and will stand trial. The charges relate to his move from Santos to Barcelona four years ago and could see him jailed for two years. However a more likely sentence for the Brazil international, whose father will also stand trial, isa fine of up to €10 million.
Both Santos and Barcelona lost their own appeals and will also stand trial with prosecutors seeking a fine of €9m from the Spanish side and €7m from the player’s former club.
‘Santos FC, Barcelona FC, Neymar, his mother Nadine Goncalves and N&N, the family company, have lost their appeals to have charges of fraud and corruption dropped,’ the High Court said in a statement.
They cannot appeal against the Court’s decision.
The case stems from a complaint by Brazilian investment group DIS that they ere due 40 per cent of the 24-year-old’s transfer rights, which could be worth up to €30m.
DIS have complained that due to the transfer fee being concealed, the eventual sum they received for their stake in the player was far less than it should have been.