On Thursday, Javier Mascherano was handed a €815,000 ($883,476) fine and a one-year prison sentence for tax evasion.
It has been a fantastic year and a half for Barcelona on the pitch. The club topped off last season’s remarkable treble by winning the FIFA Club World Cup in December, and still have a chance to match that feat again this year.
However, one of the club’s key members, Javier Mascherano, was given some terrible news on Thursday. According to a flood of reports out of Spain, the Barcelona midfielder has been handed a hefty fine and a one-year prison sentence for tax evasion.
Spanish outlet, Sport, reports that the fine is €815,000 ($883,476) and that the Argentine international’s lawyer, David Aineto, has requested the automatic suspension of the one-year prison sentence, asking it to be replaced by a fine of around €21,000 ($22, 700).
During a previous appearance in court, Mascherano admitted to paying back €1.5 million ($1.63 million) and also a further €200,000 ($216, 000) as a fine. The offenses stem from back to 2011 and 2012, but could have serious repercussions now.
While it is hard to believe that the 31-year-old will actually serve any time in prison, the possibility is certainly there. Mascherano has been a big part of Luis Enrique’s side, appearing in a total of 20 matches during the current campaign for the Blaugrana.
Mascherano arrived at the Camp Nou from Liverpool back in August 2010, in a move that cost the Catalans an estimated €24 million ($25.9 million). He has made over 150 appearances with the club since his arrival, winning two UEFA Champions League titles, two Club World Cups, three La Liga titles, and a whole slew of other trophies with the club.