Neymar in court before the World Cup
Neymar's move to Barca from Santos in 2013 has been the subject of a protracted legal controversy. According to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the Brazilian star will have to stand trial in Barcelona on October 17.
Also at this trial, two former Barca presidents - Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu - were also tried on charges of corruption and fraud in the case. The trial will end On October 31.
According to El Pais, prosecutors are seeking to sentence Neymar to two years in prison and pay $10 million in restitution. The trial follows a complaint filed by DIS — a Brazilian company focused on the football market — seven years ago.
DIS - which once owned 40% of Neymar's commercial exploitation rights when he played for Santos - allegedly was tricked by the Brazilian star, his family and also the Barca side.
The company also accused Neymar and his father Neymar da Silva Santos of signing two separate contracts with Barca that ignored the fact that the copyright to the striker's image belonged to Santos. The two sides reportedly approved the $40 million deal without notifying Santos.
DIS wants Neymar to be banned from participating in football for five years and imprisoned with the same time, besides the $ 151 million compensation. "Barca and Neymar violated FIFA rules, affecting the free competition on the transfer market," DIS said in 2016.
In 2014, Barca was charged with tax fraud by the Spanish court when signing a contract with Neymar. The PSG striker denied wrongdoing. But three years later, the Spanish high court rejected Neymar's appeal, his parents and two clubs, paving the way for the case to be tried.
The 2022 World Cup will start on November 21, and Neymar ruled more than a month before Brazil kicked the 2022 World Cup against Serbia on November 24. After that, Brazil will touch Switzerland on November 28 and Cameroon 3/12. According to the British Sportmail newspaper, the court is likely not to make a decision before the tournament started in Qatar, and this will be an unwanted distraction for Neymar.
