Barcelona's social media campaign in support of Lionel Messi, following his conviction for tax fraud last week, has been criticized by "a representative of workers at Spain's tax authority," according to Dermot Corrigan of ESPN.com. Barcelona 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. Carlos Cruzado, head of the Gestha union which represents workers at Spain's tax authority, said that "playing down the importance of a conviction for tax fraud affects how other Spanish citizens think of their own responsibilities in this area." Cruzado: "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" (ESPN.com, 7/12). The EP reported Spanish Superior Sports Council (CSD) President Miguel Cardenal lamented that Barcelona's campaign is "totally mistaken" if it aims to "make a complaint about a judicial ruling." Cardenal: "We are in an advanced democracy with an independent and competent judicial power. You have to respect and comply with the decisions" (EP, 7/12).
