Brazil: Judge freezes assets of Barcelona star Neymar in tax evasion investigation

The parents of Brazil forward Neymar have denied any wrongdoing after a judge froze 188.8m reais (£31.36m, $47.6m) of the player's assets in a tax evasion case. Neymar is alleged to have not paid 63.3m reais in taxes between 2011 and 2013 but his parents said the Barcelona player "cannot declare what is not his" and is not a partner in the firms a judge said were part-owned by the player.

The judge froze three times that amount for security reasons and to cover potential interest and fines, according to a judicial order explaining the seizure. The action covers property and vehicles and is a preventive measure to stop the player selling assets before the case is settled. He will still have access to bank accounts and other liquid assets.

Judge Carlos Muta accused the 23-year-old of "omitting sources of income from abroad". Barcelona FC was cited as the source of unreported money. However, Neymar's parents said the decision was based on an "incorrect understanding" of their son's income.

"Neymar Jr did not avoid paying taxes, and neither did any of our companies," Neymar da Silva Santos and Nadine Goncalves da Silva Santos said in a statement released to the press. "We have done our duty and we are confident that everything will be cleared up in due time."