Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano has been charged with tax fraud.

The 31-year-old is alleged to have used companies set up in the USA and Portugal to conceal over £1.1m from the Spanish authorities in 2011 and 2012.

Mascherano paid back the money in full earlier this month, plus £150k in interest, which local prosecutors believe will work in his favour if he is found guilty of the charges.

The news comes just three days after Neymar had his assets frozen due to allegations of tax evasion.

Written by
Jonathan McIntosh