Barcelona Legend Iniesta Accused of Fraud, Investigation Underway

Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta is reportedly being investigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office in Peru. The World Cup winner with Spain is being accused of fraud. As per recent reports, this Iniesta fraud tunes to approximately €518,000 ($600,000/£450,000). Companies owned by Iniesta are accused of organising entertainment projects that did not take place and then failed to offer refunds.

Charges Against Companies Linked to Iniesta

Iniesta tax fraud is trending due to a complaint registered against two companies linked to Andres Iniesta: Never Say Never (NSN) Barcelona and its South American branch, NSN Sudamerica, both of which allegedly promoted multiple entertainment projects in Peru that never materialized. Among the events announced were an international friendly match, a K-pop festival, a legends football exhibition, and a music event called Upa Upa fest —the only event in the so-called Iniesta scandal to take place —but it also ended in heavy financial losses. According to the plaintiffs, those losses led to the cancellation of the remaining events, and no refunds were issued to the Peruvian investors who had financed the ventures.

Former World Cup Winner Misled by Wrong People

Andres Iniesta has yet to respond to the allegations publicly, but La Sexta reports the former Barcelona star has been “affected” by the events. Sources close to the former player claim he was “led by the wrong people, which harmed him and third parties”. The accusations have been denied, although it has been claimed one of the companies involved “is being liquidated to pay for everything they left behind”. Emilio Lozano, one of those affected in the “Iniesta scandal,” has claimed thousands were invested into planning football matches and concerts due to be organised by Iniesta's companies. According to Peruvian media, the Public Prosecutor's Office is now investigating whether “the money raised in Peru was transferred to accounts abroad” and if Iniesta's image was used to tempt investors. It has also been alleged “that prestige was only used to attract capital from Peruvian businessmen under the deception that it would be invested in major events, but these events never took place”.