The tax case involving Barcelona and Neymar could be in for a new twist following changes to Spain’s Criminal Code.
According to Marca, the twist stems from a reform of the country’s penal code, which came into force in June and exempts companies from criminal liability when the alleged crimes are committed by their administrators, directors, managers and/or employees.
Consequently, this would see Barca spared from any punishment, with former President Sandro Rosell and incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu shouldering the burden instead.
The three parties were charged with alleged tax fraud, amounting to an estimated €9.1m, several months ago, but the case will now be heard in a Barcelona court, as opposed to a National Court.
Bartomeu, who recently won Barca’s presidential elections by a landslide, has continually maintained that both he and the club are free of any wrongdoing.
