Taxman bites Neymar

Barcelona star Neymar on Thursday lost an appeal against a $112,000 fine slapped on him for tax evasion during his years with Santos in 2007 and 2008.

The appeal decision confirmed the Brazilian financial authorities' sanction handed down originally in 2012 for irregularities in his income tax declaration, the tax service said.

The case also involved the player's father, although the fine is unlikely to perturb the Brazilian star too much as he reportedly earns around $215,000 a week with the European champion.