Neymar hit with five-year prison request in fraud and corruption trial

Superstar footballer Neymar is set to stand trial for fraud and corruption charges, with the prosecution asking for a five-year prison sentence.

The Brazil and PSG forward is facing charges over his transfer to Barcelona from Santos back in 2013 and the complainant, Brazilian investment firm DIS, said on Thursday it was demanding a five-year jail term.

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DIS acquired 40 per cent of the rights to Neymar in exchange for two million euros back when he was 17 at Santos.

However, his move from the Brazilian club to Spanish outfit Barcelona caused controversy.

Barca said at the time of Neymar’s move that the transfer figure was 57.1 million euros ($AUD88 million), of which 40 million was paid to Neymar’s family.

DIS received a 40 percent share of the remaining 17.1 million that was paid to Santos.

The company allege the transfer fee was understated and claim they lost out on a larger fee.

Neymar, who is a key member of the Brazil team that will be heading to the World Cup in Qatar next month, has denied the allegations but lost an appeal in Spain's High Court in 2017, which paved the way for the trial.

Neymar will have to make an appearance on Monday in court, but it is unclear if he needs to attend after the first day.

Neymar denies wrongdoing

Along with Neymar, the defendants in the trial being brought by Spanish prosecutors, which begins in Barcelona on Monday, are his parents, the two clubs, former Barca presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, and ex-Santos president Odilio Rodrigues.

Baker McKenzie, who will be defending Neymar and his family in the trial, told Reuters they will argue that the Spanish courts "lack jurisdiction to prosecute the Neymar family" since the transfer involved Brazilian nationals in Brazil.

Spanish prosecutors want a two-year prison term for Neymar and the payment of a 10 million euros ($AUD 15 million) fine plus a five-year jail term for Rosell and an 8.4 million euros fine for Barcelona.

"Neymar's rights have not been sold to the highest bidder. There were clubs that offered up to 60 million euros," DIS lawyer Paulo Nasser told a news conference in Barcelona on Thursday.

Neymar's lawyers argue that competition rules relate to products and services and do not apply to the transfer market.

"The rules of free competition do not operate since the transfer from one club to another depends on the free will of the player," a Baker McKenzie spokesman told Reuters.

Neymar will lead Brazil into the World Cup as the No.1 ranked nation in the world.

The Brazilian is enjoying a strong start to the season in Ligue 1 for PSG with eight goals domestically and one in the Champions League Group Stages.

He will also be looking to become Brazil's highest-ever goal scorer at the World Cup, overtaking Pele, if he scores a further three goals.

with Reuters

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