5 footballers who were sentenced to prison

Not the best of days for Lionel Messi as he was indicted for tax evasion

The decision of a Spanish court to hand a jail sentence to Lionel Messi for a tax fraud has sent shock waves across the globe. The sentencing adds to the misery of the Argentina and Barcelona superstar after the recent loss to Chile in Copa America Centenario finals. While it remains to be seen if he will serve his sentence in jail, it is definitely a sad day in the glorious career of the player.

However, Messi is not the first footballer to come under the scanner of the authorities for the wrong reasons with a number of them being handed a sentence for their offences.

#1 Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona was arrested in 1991 after being caught in possession on half a kilo of cocaine

One of the greatest footballers of all times, Diego Maradona has not been a stranger to controversy. His addiction to drugs and alcohol often made him subject to front page news for the wrong reasons. He was also suspected of having smuggled heinous amounts of drugs and having ties with the notorious Naples Mafia. However, the diminutive magician did not amend his ways and was handed a suspended sentence in 1994  for shooting at journalists with an air rifle.

The journalists who were waiting outside his home Buenos Aires were greeted with gunshots by an angered Maradona which resulted in at least 4 of them being injured.