COURT REJECTS MESSI'S TAX APPEAL

The Spanish Supreme Court has rejected Lionel Messi's appeal against his conviction for tax evasion.

The Argentine was sentenced to 21 months in fail for failing to pay €4.1 million in taxes between 2007 and 2009. Messi, and his father Jorge Horacio who received the same sentence, were also fined 2 million euros ($2.24 million) in a ruling in July last year.

Neither Messi nor his father are expected to serve time in jail, as under Spanish law sentences under two years can be served under probation.