Barcelona stands by Messi after tax fraud ruling

The club has pledged its star legal and moral support after it emerged on Wednesday that he faced a 21-month jail sentence.

Barcelona has offered backing to Lionel Messi after he was given a prison sentence for tax fraud offences on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old, along with his father Jorge, was found guilty of three counts of fiscal fraud related to image rights accrued between 2007 and 2009.

Both have been given a 21-month jail sentence by a Spanish court, along with a fine totaling $2.21 million.

Neither of the two are likely to serve any time in prison as the sentence was less than two years for a non-violent offence and neither holds a criminal record.