MADRID — Spain’s National Court has accepted the state prosecutor’s request to open a trial against Barcelona, club president Josep Bartomeu, and his predecessor Alexandre "Sandro" Rosell for alleged tax evasion linked to the signing of Neymar.
Judge Jose de la Mata on Wednesday ordered the court to begin drafting a proposed indictment against the defendants.
De la Mata, who has succeeded Judge Pablo Ruz in leading the probe, has ruled there is enough evidence to begin a trial.
Barcelona has denied any wrongdoing, and has a right to appeal.
Bartomeu took over when Rosell resigned in January 2014 after being named a suspect in the case and investigated for misappropriating funds to hide the full transfer cost.
No trial date has been set.
