Brazil court freezes footballer Neymar's assets

A court in Brazil has frozen assets of football star
Neymar.
The federal court in Sao Paulo announced it was
issuing warrants to freeze almost $50m (£34.5m)
worth of assets belonging to the Brazil and
Barcelona striker.
They include a yacht, a jet and several properties.
Neymar, 23, is accused of tax evasion between
2011 and 2013 and faces legal proceedings. He
has denied any wrongdoing.
'Not too harsh'
Among the assets frozen are also three
companies belonging to his family.
Prosecutors accuse Neymar of setting up
companies as fronts in order to pay a lower rate
of tax.
They demand he pay 63.6 million reias ($16m;
£11m) in allegedly undeclared taxes.
The court ordered his assets be frozen to ensure
the payment plus any possible fines, it said.
An auditor with the federal tax agency told the
Associated Press news agency that Neymar could
still appeal the decision and that he was unlikely
to face jail.
"If he pays what he owes, the case is closed," the
auditor added. "Our legislation isn't too harsh."
Neymar and his father were questioned this
month in a court in the Spanish capital, Madrid,
over separate allegations of corruption and fraud
surrounding his transfer to FC Barcelona.
Neymar also denied any wrongdoing in that case.