Neymar Faces Five-Year Jail-Term Request in Corruption and Fraud Trial

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica, at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on October 11, 2022. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica, at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on October 11, 2022. (AFP)
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Neymar Faces Five-Year Jail-Term Request in Corruption and Fraud Trial

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica, at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on October 11, 2022. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar reacts during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and SL Benfica, at The Parc des Princes Stadium, on October 11, 2022. (AFP)

Brazil forward Neymar will stand trial next week on fraud and corruption charges over his transfer to Barcelona from Santos in 2013 and the complainant, Brazilian investment firm DIS, said on Thursday it was demanding a five-year jail term.

Along with Neymar, the defendants in the trial being brought by Spanish prosecutors, which begins in Barcelona on Monday, are his parents, the two clubs, former Barca presidents Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, and former Santos president Odilio Rodrigues.

The case stems from a complaint by DIS, a Brazilian company that owned 40% of the rights to Neymar when he was at Santos. It argues it lost out on its rightful cut from the transfer because the true value of the deal was understated.

Neymar has denied the allegations but lost an appeal in Spain's High Court in 2017, which paved the way for the trial.

Reuters has contacted representatives for Neymar and his parents for comment.

Rosell has also previously denied any wrongdoing. His representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Barcelona and lawyers representing Bartomeu declined to comment on the case. Santos did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Rodrigues could not be immediately reached.

DIS is also requesting jail terms for Rosell and Bartomeu, and a 149 million euros ($144 million) fine.

Spanish prosecutors want a two-year prison term for Neymar and the payment of a 10 million euros fine and a five-year jail term for Rosell plus an 8.4 million euros fine for the Spanish club.

DIS acquired 40% of Neymar’s rights when he was aged 17 in exchange for 2 million euros. It argues that the player's sale to Barcelona was well below his real market value.

Barcelona said at the time of Neymar’s move that the transfer figure was 57.1 million euros, of which 40 million was paid to Neymar’s family.

DIS received a 40 percent share of the remaining 17.1 million that was paid to Santos.

"Neymar's rights have not been sold to the highest bidder. There were clubs that offered up to 60 million euros," DIS lawyer Paulo Nasser told a news conference in Barcelona on Thursday.

The court in Barcelona where the trial will be held said Neymar will have to appear in-person on Monday for the first day but it is unclear if he will be asked to stay for the whole hearing that could go on for two weeks.

Neymar, his parents, Rosell and Bartomeu will start their testimony next Friday.



Tunisia's Jaouadi Pushes Through Pain for Second World Gold

 Swimming - World Aquatics Championships - Men 1500m Freestyle - World Aquatics Championships Arena, Singapore - August 3, 2025 Gold medalist Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi celebrates on the podium. (Reuters)
Swimming - World Aquatics Championships - Men 1500m Freestyle - World Aquatics Championships Arena, Singapore - August 3, 2025 Gold medalist Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi celebrates on the podium. (Reuters)
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Tunisia's Jaouadi Pushes Through Pain for Second World Gold

 Swimming - World Aquatics Championships - Men 1500m Freestyle - World Aquatics Championships Arena, Singapore - August 3, 2025 Gold medalist Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi celebrates on the podium. (Reuters)
Swimming - World Aquatics Championships - Men 1500m Freestyle - World Aquatics Championships Arena, Singapore - August 3, 2025 Gold medalist Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi celebrates on the podium. (Reuters)

Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi added the 1,500m freestyle world title to his 800m crown on Sunday for a Singapore double, with two-time Olympic champion Bobby Finke only third.

Jaouadi won a thriller to grab gold in 14min 34.41sec, ahead of Germany's Sven Schwarz (14:35.69) and the American world record holder Finke (14:36.60).

With three laps to go in the grueling long-distance race, it was a three-way tussle between Jaouadi, Schwarz and Finke.

Jaouadi timed it to perfection, leading at the bell from the German and holding him off in the final lap.

"A lot of pain, a lot of struggle. I knew that everyone is struggling and everyone is feeling the pain," said the Tunisian.

"I wasn't the only one. I just tried to be the strongest one mentally. It was a good one because all of the boys swam a good race and everyone tried to win it.

"Through my body it was a lot of pain, it hurts. But through my mind was I want this medal, I want to win it. It's as simple as that."

Jaouadi's 800m free title earlier in the week was his first major crown.

Finke is the two-time reigning Olympic champion in the 1,500m and world record holder following his 14:30.67 in Paris a year ago.

Jaouadi was sixth in the French capital.