Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. is set to face trial in October in a case pertaining to alleged irregularities that took place during his transfer from Santos to FC Barcelona. Apart from the Brazilian star, former FC Barcelona presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu will also be tried in the case, the trial for which will be taking place between October 17-31.

Neymar is facing a jail sentence of as long as two years if he is proved guilty. However, what is it that he is accused of? Let’s find out.

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What is the heart of the matter?

After FC Barcelona signed Neymar from Santos, the Spanish club claimed that they signed him for a fee in the region of €17 million. However, it was later discovered that the original fee was around €83m, including payments which the club paid to the player’s father and the company that owned his rights.

How did the case begin?

Following the discovery of the information, Barcelona fan and socio Jordi Cases lodged a complaint against Sandro Rosell in December 2013, where he alleged misappropriation of funds and a lack of transparency in the transfer. Without a response from Barcelona, Cases took the complaint to court, which resulted in the resignation of Rosell as the President of the club in 2014.

The intricacy of the case

A prosecutor in the case called for Neymar to be given a two-year jail sentence in November 2017 for alleged corruption in his transfer to Barcelona, which involved supermarket chain DIS. Judge Jose Perals also wanted a five-year jail term for Sandro Rosell, who was to be standing trial with his successor Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Since then, supermarket chain and Brazilian investment group DIS, which owned part of Neymar’s transfer rights, have also come forward and made a complaint alleging that they received less money than it should have in the transfer in question.

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However, Neymar tried to evade making an appearance in court. But the court ruled in February 2017 that the Brazilian and his father will be standing trial to defend themselves from the corruption charges against them.

Could Neymar go to jail?

If Neymar is proved guilty of the corruption charges against him, it is unlikely that he will have to go to jail. According to Spanish law, any sentences for first offenders, looking at jail terms of two years or less are suspended.