Barcelona's social media campaign in support of Lionel Messi, following the superstar's conviction for tax fraud last week, has been criticised by a representative of workers at Spain's tax authority.
Barcelona last weekend launched a controversial #WeAreAllLeoMessi campaign urging fans to "express their sympathy" after the Argentine and his father, Jorge, were found guilty by a Barcelona court of three counts of defrauding the tax department and handed down suspended jail sentences of 21 months.
Blaugrana board spokesman Josep Vives has defended the campaign, pointing out what he says are contradictions in the Spanish state's handling of the case, and also claiming that Messi has been tax compliant for years and currently pays more in taxes each year than any other Spanish resident.
A different view was given by Carlos Cruzado, chief of the Gestha union which represents workers at Spain's tax authority, who told Cadena Ser radio station that playing down the importance of a conviction for tax fraud affects how other Spanish citizens think of their own responsibilities in this area.
"We understand that campaigns of solidarity, as has been rolled out this week by Barcelona, claiming solidarity with someone who has committed tax fraud, do not exactly improve the fiscal conscience of the Spanish people," Cruzado said.
Los empleados del FC Barcelona dan su apoyo a Messi https://t.co/DFF8m5Luc0 #TodosSomosLeoMessi pic.twitter.com/vv78zJ4wAJ
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) July 11, 2016
Currently on holiday, the Blaugrana No. 10 has not commented on either the court's judgement or Barca's campaign in his favour, however Messi's management company said the pair would appeal to Spain's Supreme Court.
Some reports have suggested that Barca's show of support was motivated by fear that Messi was now planning to let his contract run down until 2018 and then leave the Camp Nou. This comes amid a feeling voiced in Sport that in recent years the club have spent more time and resources defending themselves over the 2013 Neymar transfer, than they have on helping Messi through his legal issues.
With concerns over the Neymar transfer easing, the Brazilian has recently signed a new contract tying him to the Camp Nou until 2021, although Barca have postponed an event planned for July 15 where the deal was to be officially presented to the media.
The announcement of Neymar's new contract brought a public row between his representatives and the Catalan club over whether it will make the 24-year-old the world's best-paid player.
Messi, 29, signed his current contract in summer 2014 -- and reports say it contains a clause which this summer will see his annual salary rise to €39.4 million gross for next season.