Barca’s Javier Mascherano handed jail sentence over tax fraud…but probably won’t serve time

Mascher-oh-no.

Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano has been sentenced to a year in prison after the Spanish courts reached a verdict on his tax fraud case. The Argentine also received a fine of £625,000 for two counts of fiscal crimes committed in 2011 and 2012. Mascherano has previously repaid the money owed, as well as covering a heavy fine. The sentence is not expected to be applied as in Spain, a sentence of less than two years doesn't usually require actual time served unless the individual is seen as dangerous. The player tweeted the followed statement in Spanish, which stresses that he is a footballer and isn't well versed in financial matters. He says that he is an "honest and responsible person", and that he is happy to comply with the authorities. https://twitter.com/Mascherano/status/690163601987014656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw