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Lionel Messi is known for escaping defenders on the soccer field. But he was not able to escape a conviction for tax fraud in Spain this week. A court in Barcelona, Spain, sentenced the Argentinian soccer star to 21 months in prison on Wednesday. Messi plays for Barcelona’s soccer team during the club season. He is the five-time winner of FIFA’s player of the year award. Investigators in Spain said they found evidence that Messi and his father, Jorge, hid money that should have been taxed by the Spanish government.
* be known for ~ = ~로 알려진/ escape = 벗어나다, 빠져 나오다; 피하다/ defender = 수비 선수/ conviction = 유죄 선고[판결]/ tax fraud = 세금 사기/ sentence (sb) to ~ = ~의 판결을 내리다/ player of the year award = 올해의 선수상/ hide(hid-hidden) = 감추다, 숨기다
The younger Messi earned the money from 2007 to 2009. Tax inspectors said over $4 million of Messi’s money went to accounts in Uruguay, Switzerland and Belize. Messi was fined over $2 million. His father was fined about $1.5 million. Jorge Messi was also sentenced to 21 months. Neither man, however, is expected to spend any time in prison. In Spain, first offenses carrying sentences of less than two years are usually suspended. Both Messis told the court they did not think they were breaking any laws. The news about Messi was one of the top trending topics around the world on Facebook and Twitter on Wednesday. People made their feelings clear about Messi’s actions. Zaheed Sabur used Facebook to say: “you already have more than you can ever spend. Shame on you Leo Messi!” And, many people questioned why Messi could not pay his taxes like everyone else.
* fine = 벌금을 물리다[부과하다]/ first offense = (법) 초범(初犯)/ sentence = 형벌, 형; (형의) 선고/ question = 의심하다, 의문을 갖다; 이의를 제기하다
