Barca indignant at trial call over Neymar

BARCELONA, Feb 4 (AFP): FC Barcelona voiced "surprise and indignation" Tuesday at prosecutors' call for the club and its former president to be tried for tax fraud over the signing of Brazilian star Neymar.
In a judicial file released Monday, prosecutor Jose Perals Calleja called for Barcelona and their former president Sandro Rosell to face trial over the signing of the striker in 2013.
"FC Barcelona wishes to express to its members its surprise, indignation and total disagreement with the public prosecutor's petition," the club said in a statement.
The prosecutor suspects Rosell and Barca paid more for Neymar than the 57 million euros ($64.3 million, £42.7 million) that they declared to he Spanish taxman.
They believe the figure was 82.7 million euros divided into sperate contracts that secured the signing.
"It is FC Barcelona's wish for the judge hearing this case to reject the requests being made by the prosecutor's office," the club said.
"All of the actions involved in the player's transfer process were conducted with no intent whatsoever to breach the law in any way."
According to the Spanish tax authorities, Barcelona owe 12 million euros in tax on the Neymar deal, which would see the overall cost of the operation rise to 94.8 million euros.
Rosell resigned as president over the affair just over a year ago when a complaint brought by one of the club's members for misappropriation of funds was taken to court.