Barcelona pays €5.5m euro fine over Neymar transfer

Barcelona football club has agreed to pay a €5.5m  fine over the transfer of Brazil international Neymar in 2013, the BBC reports.

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu told reporters there had been “a mistake… in tax planning” in connection with the transfer.

Barcelona had been accused of tax fraud over the signing, which it denied.

Neymar and his father are also being investigated over alleged tax fraud, which they also deny.

“We have had to accept paying a €5.5m fine due to a mistake in the 2011 and 2013 tax planning in the signing of Neymar,” Mr Bartomeu said.

“It was better to accept this agreement than continue on with the uncertainty that has dragged on for a long time over the Neymar case.”