New Delhi:In Spain, the Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed a 21-month jail sentence and 2.25 million Dollar fine imposed on Barcelona football star Lionel Messi for tax fraud. In July last year, Messi and his father Jorge HoracioMessi were found guilty of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying taxes on 4.16 million euros of Messi's income earned from his image rights from 2007-09.

The sentence given to Messi and his father is likely to be suspended as is common in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying a sentence of less than two years. Messi has already paid back the defrauded money to tax authorities.