Barcelona's Javier Mascherano admitted to two counts of tax fraud totalling just over 1.5 million euros ($1.64 million) before a judge on Thursday. Mascherano arrived at the court in Gava, a coastal town on the outskirts of Barcelona where the player resides, at 0900 local time (0800GMT) accompanied by his lawyers. His testimony before the court lasted barely five minutes as he recognised having committed the crime.
Spanish state prosecutors alleged the former West Ham and Liverpool midfielder failed to declare over 1.5 million euros in earnings in 2011 and 2012 by ceding his image rights to companies he owns in Portugal and the United States. "Mascherano admitted the facts of the two counts of tax fraud, so there was no need to interrogate him," said a judicial source.