Mascherano admits tax evasion charges

Barcelona utility player Javier Mascherano is hoping to avoid a prison sentence after admitting two counts of tax fraud.

Barcelona utility player Javier Mascherano is hoping to avoid a prison sentence after admitting two counts of tax fraud.

The 31-year-old former Liverpool player pleaded guilty to two counts of tax evasion at a Spanish court on Thursday, totalling more than 1.5 million euros (£1.1m).

The Argentine's legal representatives are confident their client will avoid jail time, however, after he paid the outstanding taxes plus interest.

The charge relates to undeclared earnings from his image rights in 2011 and 2012 - Mascherano is alleged to have concealed his earnings by using companies he owns in Portugal and the US.

Mascherano is not the only Barcelona player being investigated by the Spanish tax authorities, with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Xabi Alonso also facing scrutiny.