Javier Mascherano tax fraud: Barcelona star agrees one-year prison settlement over evasion scam

Javier Mascherano has come to a settlement with Spanish authorities after agreeing to repay £588,000 ($887,000) regarding cases of tax evasion in 2011 and 2012. The Barcelona star has also reportedly agreed a 12-month prison sentence, but due to Spanish law will not serve any jail time.

The Argentina international had been accused of failing to declare earnings in 2011 and 2012 properly after ceding image rights to companies he owns in Portugal and the US.

Spanish newspaper AS revealed on 29 October that Mascherano had admitted during a declaration in court that he had defrauded authorities of over £1m in income during that two-year period.

Having previously paid back the money owed plus an extra amount in interest and penalty charges, Mascherano's defence team have since been trying to negotiate with prosectors over his punishment.

Cadena Ser now claims that the prosecution and the player has reached a settlement, with Mascherano agreeing to pay an additional fine of £588,000 for the two penalty charges committed.

The 31-year-old star has also been given 12 months in prison (four for the first offence and eight for the second) but will not have to serve any time in jail. Spanish law states that non-violent crimes with prison sentences under two years do not require jail time to be served.