Zimpapers Logo

BARCELONA. – Barcelona star Neymar has been cleared of tax evasion charges in his native Brazil, according to his father.

Neymar (Snr) said the decision proved there was “justice in our country” and demanded that the 25-year-old player and his family be left in peace. The forward was fined £50.7million last year for failing to properly report earnings on his contracts with former club Santos, Barcelona and his sponsorship deals between 2011 and 2014.

This fine, which included the allegedly unpaid back taxes and interest, was halved on appeal in March. However, a parallel case concerning the evasion of Brazilian taxes on his 2013 transfer to Barcelona remained open until now. “It is with great joy the we received the news of the termination of proceedings regarding the complaint on tax evasion directed by the Federal Public Ministry,” Neymar (Snr) said in a statement. – Mailonline.