Shakira's difficulties after Gerard Pique split as tax fraud case looms

dailystar.co.uk:

Gerard Pique has split from Shakira in a relationship that saw each star hit headlines in more ways than one.The Colombian pop star, 45, announced the couple had split amid unconfirmed reports suggested Pique had cheated on her, which neither of the pair has commented on.

Other reports claim they were in an open relationship.They were recently spotted together watching their son play baseball and will reportedly stay friends, bringing an end to a relationship of 11 years.It hasn't been a good few months for Pique on and off the pitch, with his Barcelona team failing to secure any silverware this season and needing a big rebuilding project in the summer after losing Lionel Messi at the start of the season.Some cruel jokes emerged on Twitter, including one user who said that things have gone wrong since Pique, 35, tweeted "we are back" on March 20 following his Barcelona side's crushing 4-0 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico.Gerard Pique had a court ruling that he had to pay just under £1.8million in back taxes and fines annulled in 2021.

The court said the company Pique set up with his brother to handle his image rights, Kerad Project, was legitimate.A court in 2016 had ruled Pique had avoided taxes in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

This ruling was then upheld in 2019 in Spain's top criminal court, the National Court, but the Barcelona defender appealed successfully.Shakira could stand trial after the Barcelona High Court rejected the appeal to have allegations of tax fraud against her dismissed.The Hips Don't Lie singer, who has denied any wrongdoing, is accused of avoiding tax payments between 2012 and 2014 to the tune of around £12.3mil.