Story highlights
- Barcelona pay $18.5m in tax four days after judge files charges for alleged tax fraud
- Tax fraud allegations came as Spanish judge expanded inquiry into controversial Neymar deal
- Barca describe the tax payment as "voluntary" while denying any fiscal "irregularities"
Football club Barcelona paid 13.5 million euros ($18.5 million) in additional taxes on Monday, while denying any fiscal "irregularities" in its purchase of Brazilian superstar Neymar, which is now under investigation by a court.
FC Barcelona announced the surprise payment on its website, which it called "voluntary," just four days after a judge at Spain's National Court in Madrid filed preliminary charges against the fan-owned club for alleged tax fraud in the Neymar deal.
"The board (of Barcelona) denies the existence of any tax-related crime in relation to the fiscal obligations arising from the signing of the player (Neymar)," the club's website said.
"Throughout the process, the club was receiving expert advice and at every moment the club's auditor was informed and had access to all the documentation concerning the negotiations."
Last Thursday, Judge Pablo Ruz expanded his investigation against the club, as requested a day earlier by a prosecutor, who alleged the club avoided paying 9 million euros (more than $12 million) in taxes on Neymar's signing and transfer, corresponding to contracts signed in 2011 and 2013.
Photos: gallery neymar
Photos: gallery neymar
'Neymargate' – In what some have dubbed 'Neymargate', the transfer of the Brazilian forward to Barcelona in June 2013 has cast a rare shadow over the Spanish giants.
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Over and Out – Sandro Rosell quits as Barcelona president a day after a Spanish judge ordered an inquiry into Neymar's transfer, with former vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu moving into the hot seat.
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Golden Boy – Neymar is mobbed by members of the public in Rio's Maracana after his starring role -- voted best player in addition to being top goalscorer -- during Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph on home soil last year.
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Family Affair – Neymar Senior, picture on the left, represents his son, seen here alongside former Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as well as his onetime playing partner at Santos, Paulo Henrique Ganso.
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Past and Present – World Cup winner Ronaldo, seen here playing for Corinthians against Neymar's Santos in 2009, is one of several individuals involved in the Barca star's business affairs.
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Emulating Pele – Neymar rose to prominence at Pele's former club Santos. In 2010, he led the club to their first Copa Libertadores title since Pele's days, with Neymar scoring the opening goal in a 2-1 aggregate win over Uruguay's Penarol in the final.
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'More than a Club' – Neymar waves to the crowds after signing a five-deal with Barcelona, but the full nature of the transfer is now under investigation.
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Business as Usual – Barcelona is a club that has grown its off-field image to accompany its stunning on-field success, with the Spanish side having been crowned kings of Europe four times. Here, Neymar accompanies Alexis Sanchez during a charity visit to Barcelona's Hospital del Mar.
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Controversial move? – Now vice president, Javier Faus (on the right) recently suggested that Barcelona may sell the Camp Nou's title rights to fund a 600m Euro redevelopment of the stadium.
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Barca's Rosell resigns over Neymar deal 01:52
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The judge is already investigating whether a former Barcelona president committed financial irregularities in the signing of Neymar.
The club said on its website Monday: "Given the existence of a possible divergent interpretation of the exact amount of tax responsibility arising from the signing, and to defend the club's reputation and good name, FC Barcelona has this morning made a complementary tax declaration of a total of 13,550,830.56 euros."
The reason, the club added, was "to cover any potential interpretation made concerning the contracts signed in the transfer process for Neymar, although we remain convinced that the original tax payment was in line with our fiscal obligations."
Judge Ruz said in his writ last Thursday that the investigation would include a look at an alleged "contract simulation presumably carried out by the parties which signed the contracts."
The expanded investigation would hold FC Barcelona responsible as an entity or business enterprise if found guilty of tax fraud, said a National Court spokesman, who by custom is not identified.
The judge ordered Spain's tax collection agency to examine FC Barcelona's tax filings for 2011, 2012 and 2013, the writ said.
Neymar joined Barcelona in June 2013, with his father -- who doubles as his agent -- having entered into an initial contract with the Spanish giants in late 2011.
Barcelona's former president, Sandro Rosell, who resigned last month after a judge agreed to investigate a lawsuit against him for alleged irregularities in the Neymar deal, has denied any wrongdoing.
Ruz began the investigation last month after a legal complaint from one of the club's members.
Prosecutor Jose Perals last Wednesday formally asked the judge to expand the investigation.
In his writ, Perals alleges that he's "become aware of a series of economic transactions by the club, and in favor of various companies, related to the signing of Neymar da Silva Santos Jr., based at times on simulated contracts."
The investigation originally came after season-ticket holder Jordi Cases complained that the amount paid to bring Neymar from Brazilian side Santos was more than the reported fee of 57.1 million euros.
A day after Rosell resigned, the club released figures that showed that Barca actually paid 86.2 million euros for Neymar.
Cases' lawyer, Felipe Izquierdo, earlier told CNN that other Barcelona executives, still working at the club after Rosell's resignation, also allegedly signed some of the contracts that brought Neymar to the club.
Barcelona has told CNN that one of those signatories was former club VP, and now President, Josep Maria Bartomeu.
