Neymar da Silva Santos, the father of football player Neymar, met with Economy Minister Paulo Guedes and the special secretary of the Federal Revenue service, Marco Cintra. After the meeting, he was received by president Jair Bolsonaro.
The meeting was not planned and was only included in the official agenda of the minister after it ended. According to the Economy Ministry spokesperson, the goal of the meeting was to discuss "tax matters related to sports activities."
According to the staff of the soccer player, Neymar’s father had the meeting because NR Sports, the company that manages the career of the football player, is one of the 10 thousand largest taxpayers in Brazil.
In December, Folha showed that Neymar had R$69 million (US$ 17 million) in outstanding taxes and fines. The revenue service accused the football player of evading taxes when he was transferred from Santos to Barcelona.
The Economy Ministry said that Neymar’s father wanted to clarify to Bolsonaro pending fiscal process of judgment.
“Given that this was a technical matter, governed by its own rules, it was referred to the Ministry of Economy,” a spokesperson said.
"The businessman presented his clarifications to Minister Paulo Guedes, as it is normal to grant audiences to the private sector, as stated in the public agenda of the authorities of the Union,” the ministry said.
The ministry states that regardless of the meeting, the matter will undergo its due process and observe applicable legal processes.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon