Spanish court indicts Barca presidents for fraud in Neymar signing

Published Mar. 13, 2015 10:23 a.m. ET

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A Spanish judge has indicted Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu and his predecessor, Sandro Rosell, for tax fraud and fraudulent administration in a probe centering on the signing of Neymar.

Investigative magistrate Pablo Ruz accused the club and its management of fabricating a labyrinth of contracts to hide the real cost of signing the Brazil striker in 2013.

The judge says Neymar cost at least 83.3 million euros ($88 million), while Barcelona insists it paid 57 million euros (then $74 million).

Bartomeu took over when Rosell resigned in January 2014 after being named a suspect in the case and investigated for misappropriating funds to hide the transfer cost.

No trial date has been set.

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