Perez is wanted to testify in the Neymar case.. and accusations of corruption affect everyone
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez appears as a witness in the trial of former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, for his possible involvement in corruption and fraud in the deal to sign Brazilian striker Neymar da Silva, who is also facing charges in the same judicial process.
Perez will be one of 18 witnesses in the oral trial that will begin on October 17 before the Sixth Circuit of the Barcelona Court, during which he will represent the Brazilian Investment Fund (DIS) and the Federation of Professional Athletes' Unions in Brazil (FAAP).
According to the court order, the Real Madrid president was called to testify on October 18, the second day of the trial, after the Department of Homeland Security suggested he be called as a witness in light of his statements about the Neymar deal in a televised interview broadcast in February 2016.
The Public Prosecution demanded a 5-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million euros for the former Barcelona president for corruption and fraud in the transfer deal of the Brazilian striker, who also demanded a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 10 million on him for committing a crime of corruption in business.
On the other hand, he acquits former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who was vice president at the time of the events although he also appears as a defendant in the case on the grounds that despite signing fraudulent contracts for the Santos striker, he was not an active element in the talks.
The fund, until the time of the Brazilian star's move to Barcelona, owned 40% of his economic rights after the agreement reached in 2009 with the player, according to which he was paid the equivalent of two million euros.
However, although Barcelona paid Santos 25.17 million for the player's rights and another 60 million to N&N, the family business run by Neymar's father, DIS received only 6.8 million, compared to the 40%.
The company is now claiming 150 million euros in damages, the player being imprisoned for 5 years and Rosell and Bartomeu for 8 years.
Likewise, the Confederation of Professional Athletes considers that in the alleged fraud between Barcelona and Santos, its rights were violated.
In addition to Neymar, Russell and Bartomeu, the player's father and mother are also facing charges, as the prosecution demanded two years in prison and one year - respectively - for a crime of business corruption, and also demanded a three-year prison sentence for the former Santos manager, Odilio Rodriguez, for committing a fraud crime.
Three legal entities will also be prosecuted for their involvement in the case: FC Barcelona, FC Santos and (N&N) Consulting, for which the prosecution is seeking fines of 8.4, 7 and 1.44 million euros, respectively.
Neymar's transfer has been under legal proceedings for years, with many open fronts causing many legal and financial problems for the Catalan club.
It is noteworthy that the Catalan entity had already agreed in 2016 to pay 5.5 million euros due to his convictions in two tax crimes, making Barcelona the first football team to be convicted as a legal person.
This agreement with the public prosecutor allowed then-President Josep Maria Bartomeu, and his predecessor, Sandro Rosell, to be absolved of criminal responsibility.
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