12-30-2019, 05:43 AM
BARCELONA, Spain -- Barcelona paid 13.55 million euros (US$18.6 million) to Spanish tax authorities on Monday to cover any potential irregularities in its signing of Neymar, all the while maintaining its innocence of the fraud charges levied against it. The Spanish champion said in a statement it had paid the "complimentary" amount to cover any "eventual interpretations that could come out of the contracts signed relating to the transfer of Neymar. Meanwhile we are convinced of the legality of our initial fulfilment relating to our tax obligations." Barcelonas actions take the price of Neymars transfer to more than 100 million euros ($138 million) after the Catalan club initially said it had paid 57.1 million euros ($74 million) for the Brazil forward. That sum does not include bonus payments made by Barcelona or the 22-year-olds salary, meaning his total cost likely exceeds the record-breaking 100 million euros-plus spent by rival Real Madrid on Gareth Bale last summer. Spanish tax authorities had charged Barcelona with fraud on Thursday, alleging it swindled the state of 9.1 million euros ($12.5 million) through payments to varying companies and false contracts. Barcelona said it had "scrupulously" met its financial obligations in signing the player from Brazilian club Santos and it would continue to work with the state authority in the matter. Neymars signing forced the resignation of Sandro Rosell as president last month, after one club members petition to learn more about the intricate details of what has become a club-record signing were kept in the dark. Rosell has preached financial prudence while signing lucrative sponsorship deals that have put advertising on the front of Barcelonas jersey for the first time in the history of an institution that considers itself "more than a club" and a symbol of Catalan values. Rosell is being investigated by the same Spanish court that laid the fraud charges against the club. Of the initial transfer fee, Brazilian club Santos received 17.1 million euros ($23 million) while Neymars father, who also goes by Neymar, earned 40 million euros ($55 million). Barcelona said the decision to make the payment came after an emergency board meeting on Sunday. Andrew Ference Jersey . -- Oakland Athletics third baseman Scott Sizemore has undergone surgery on his left knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Boyd Gordon Jersey . Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. https://www.cheapoilers.com/335s-chris-p...ilers.html . We wonder if the price of a Roberts rookie card has at least gone up a few cents? Tribute Tweets #Padres Tony Gwynn had 287 career plate appearances against #Braves trio of Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz, he hit . Fake Oilers Jerseys .com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs will try to play spoiler as the Los Angeles Kings will try to match their longest winning streak in over four years in Thursdays battle at Staples Center. Joakim Nygard Jersey . And former Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson certainly knows his pain. "Its pretty hard to coach there without allowing some of these things to kind of affect you," Wilson told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun in his ESPN.ST. LOUIS -- After failing to hold three-run leads in two straight games, Allen Craig and the St. Louis Cardinals put their series final against Milwaukee out of reach. Craig homered on a four-hit day that included three RBIs, and Matt Adams hit a three-run homer as the Cardinals beat the Brewers 9-3 Wednesday. "Its nice to see some big production that we know is going to come from certain guys" said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who slept on his office couch after an 11-inning loss Tuesday night. Jon Jay had three hits and a walk his first four trips to the plate. The Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep against the team with the best record in the major leagues. "Ive been feeling pretty good at the plate for a little while now, hitting some balls hard," Craig said. "Frustrations part of it. Things are going to turn around." Shelby Miller (3-2) worked around homers to Mark Reynolds and Carlos Gomez, allowing three runs and six hits in six-plus innings. "Kind of little rough early on," Miller said. "Its always nice to have a lot of runs scored for you, but at the same time, youve got to act like its a close game no matter what." Milwaukee is 20-8, a franchise record for wins through the seasons first full first month. Matt Garza (1-3) joined the lengthy list of injured Brewers when he was removed in the fourth inning because of a bruised right thumb from getting jammed on an at-bat to end the third. He said there was no doubt hed be ready for his next start. "Im going to make sure Im OK by then," Garza said. "Im not here to skip a start, Im prepared to pitch. I want to get right back out there." Ryan Braun (oblique) and Jean Segura (cut on head) didnt start during the series, and Aramis Ramirez (elbow) was out the last two games for Milwaukee, which batted light-swinging Scooter Gennett third. Seggura and Ramirez are expected to return Thursday for the start of a four-game series at Cincinnati, though Braun remains day to day.dddddddddddd Manager Ron Roenicke said Braun will not start Thursday and added, "In a couple days, he needs to be ready to go." Segura played the eighth at shortstop and doubled in the ninth. It was 50 degrees at game time. The sun popped out of the clouds a few times, each time getting a big cheer. Matt Hollidays RBI single put the Cardinals in front in the first, Reynolds hit a two-run shot in the second and Adams answered in the third with his second of the season, estimated at 439 feet, for a 4-3 lead. Craig doubled for the second straight at-bat in the fourth, driving in two runs off Wei-Chung Wang, and RBI doubles by Miller and Jay made it 8-3 in the fifth. The four-hit game matched Craigs career best. He had seven hits in the series, including two homers, lifting his average to .220. Miller allowed three runs and five hits the first three innings, but no runs on one hit and three walks the rest of his outing. Hes given up seven homers. Garza was charged with five runs and rookie Wei-Chung Wang gave up four runs in three innings. Backup catcher Martin Maldonado pitched the eighth for the Brewers, the 13th reliever needed to cover 16 innings in the series. Roenicke told Maldonado not to throw too hard. NOTES: The Cardinals are skipping the fifth spot in the rotation, taking advantage of a day off Thursday and planning to start Adam Wainwright against the Cubs Travis Wood on Friday in Chicago. Marco Estrada (2-1, 2.87) is to pitch for the Brewers on Thursday, opposing Homer Bailey (1-2, 6.15). ... The Cardinals said Jim Edmonds, Willie McGee, Mike Shannon and Marty Marion will be inducted into the teams Hall of Fame in August. ... Jay is 8 for 13 against Garza. ... Miller has 19 career wins, including a 5-0 record against Milwaukee. ' ' '