'Prove it!' Football star Neymar says of Brazil tax charges

Barcelona football star Neymar insisted he is innocent of tax evasion allegations, days after losing an appeal against a USD 112,000 fine for filing irregularities in 2007 and 2008

Sao Paulo: Barcelona football star Neymar insisted he is innocent of tax evasion allegations, days after losing an appeal against a USD 112,000 fine for filing irregularities in 2007 and 2008.

Neymar. Pic/AFP

"I am happy within myself," he said in an interview with Brazil's Globo television.

"Before saying nonsense -- that we hid this, or hid that -- they should prove it," he said.

On Thursday Neymar lost his appeal against a fine imposed by tax authorities in 2012 for irregularities in his income tax declaration.

The case involved the player's father, whom Neymar also defended in the Globo interview.

"My father is doing everything to ensure that I can just focus on playing football. He handles the books. But in the moment when you see someone you love suffering, it starts to hurt," the star forward said.

Neymar is also embroiled in legal action in Spain, where he has been ordered to give evidence on February 2 over alleged fraud surrounding his transfer to Barcelona from Santos in 2013.

The USD 112,000 fine is unlikely to perturb the Brazilian star too much as he reportedly earns around USD 215,000 a week at European champions Barcelona.

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