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    Top footie clubs, players and agents cough up £800million after HMRC blitz

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    TOP footie clubs, players and agents have coughed up £800million since HMRC began a tax avoidance probe.The huge tally of unpaid taxes since 2005 includes £75million in the last year.And latest HMRC figures reveal 396 investigations are ongoing — including potential abuses at 33 professional clubs.Newcastle United recently settled a £10million tax dispute that dated back to Mike Ashley’s ownership of the club.Chelsea are being probed having reported themselves to the Premier League after spotting issues as Todd Boehly’s consortium took over ownership from Roman Abramovich.Manchester United are under investigation too, while legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson faces scrutiny over his ACF Sports Promotion firm.Read more on unpaid taxEarlier this year, ex-Man City defender Benjamin Mendy was forced to sell his £5million Cheshire mansion to repay an £800,000 tax debt.Meanwhile, the number of tax investigations in football is likely to rise as a result of inquiries into “dual representation” transfer deals. The deals would see agents claim to work for both a club and a player and split their fee between them.HMRC believes agents work mostly for players and therefore should pay more tax.Most read in FootballOfficials warn they will no longer accept a 50/50 split as the “standard approach”.Ex-England ace Emile Heskey facing bankruptcy in latest battle with taxmanEx-Man City defender Benjamin Mendy was forced to sell his £5million Cheshire mansion to repay an £800,000 tax debt More

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      Gareth Southgate set for knighthood for his England heroics after he is CLEARED over controversial tax scheme

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      GARETH Southgate has been cleared over a controversial tax scheme — paving the way for a knighthood in the New Year Honours List.The former England boss, who got the men’s side to two Euro finals, was under Whitehall scrutiny over film investment deals.Former England boss Gareth Southgate is set for a knighthood after being cleared over a controversial tax schemeCredit: GettySouthgate with Prince William ahead of the 2024 Euro finalCredit: AFPA spokesman for Southgate said he was a ‘proud Englishman’ who had ‘always paid his taxes’Credit: GettyHe still needs official approval but a source said: “Now he’s cleared the checks, people are talking about him becoming ‘Sir Gareth’.”It would see him follow in the footsteps of Three Lions greats Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.Tax bosses have cleared the way by ruling he did not break rules by investing in a controversial film investment scheme.The decision came after intensive talks between HM Revenue & Customs executives and Whitehall mandarins in recent weeks.READ MORE ON GARETH SOUTHGATESouthgate, 54, stepped down as manager in July after steering the Three Lions to two Euro finals and a World Cup semi-final in eight years.A source said: “Gareth deserves the knighthood and people in high places want to honour him.“He was a tremendous servant to England and came close to leading the team to their first silverware since 1966.“Gareth has also been a great role model and is a hugely respected public figure.”Most read in FootballGareth Southgate drops biggest hint yet over next job amid Man Utd links after stepping down as England managerPlans to knight him if England had won the 2020 Euro final against Italy were reportedly shelved as he had been placed at “amber” on a “tax risk list”.Ministers are traditionally extremely cautious when putting together honours lists.Ex-England captain David Beckham’s tax issues are said to have been a factor in him not receiving a knighthood.A source said: “Now it seems he has cleared all the checks, and people at Westminster are talking about him becoming ‘Sir Gareth’.”Southgate — in charge of England for 102 matches, and pictured with FA patron Prince William before this year’s final against Spain — was among stars to plough cash into Ingenious Media, which invested in fledgling films.But the deals were probed by the taxman over fears that the scheme was simply an artificial way of reducing tax bills.Last year, a spokesman for Southgate said he was a “proud Englishman” who had “always paid his taxes and complied with HMRC throughout his career”.The dad of two is also understood to have put aside the disputed funds “on account” as soon as HMRC challenged the scheme.READ MORE SUN STORIESLast night we approached an agent for Southgate. A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on potential honours recipients.”Stars stumped upGARETH Southgate was among hundreds of high-profile clients to plough cash into Ingenious MediaDavid Beckham, Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney were other sports stars to have invested with the firm between 2002 and 2010.Film-maker Guy Ritchie, actor Sacha Baron Cohen and Ant and Dec also did so.All were advised that their millions would be boosting Britain’s film industry in a tax-efficient way.Ingenious did fund 60 movies, including Avatar and Life of Pi , but was also found by HMRC to have run tax-avoidance schemes.More than 400 investors ultimately found themselves embroiled in a £434million tax avoidance dispute.And following a tax tribunal ruling, HMRC demanded that investors with Ingenious repaid them.None of those involved was guilty of any wrongdoing.Many of the stars ultimately settled financially with HMRC, while others took legal action against advisers.Southgate’s highs and lows as England bossGARETH Southgate took charge of 102 games for England before quitting in the aftermath of the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.But what were the best – and worst matches – from the popular gaffer’s eight-year reign before that devastating Sunday night in Berlin? Here we take a look.THE HIGHS:Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 on pens,) 2018 World CupThis was the night that long-suffering supporters finally started to believe that it was coming home.Despite conceding a late equaliser, England held their nerve to advance to the quarter final of the World Cup 2018 on penalties.It was our first shootout victory for 22 years.Spain 2-3 England, 2018 Nations LeagueFollowing on from the World Cup, England won in Spain for the first time in 31 years with a brilliant Uefa Nations League victory.Southgate’s boys stunned the Seville crowd into silence with a thrilling performance that saw them lead 3-0 at the break thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace and Marcus Rashford.Although the hosts scored two after the break, the way the Three Lions tore La Roja apart excited every fan.England 2-1 Denmark, Euro 2020 semi-finalSouthgate led England to their first major final in 55 years as they beat Denmark after extra-time in the Euro 2020 semi-final.Having fallen behind after half an hour, the Three Lions battled back to send it to extra-time courtesy of an own goal.Then it was captain Kane who converted a rebound after Kasper Schmeichel originally saved his penalty in extra-time to win it.England 3-0 Sengal, 2022 World Cup last 16England had already blown Iran and Wales, 6-2 and 3-0 respectively, away in the World Cup 2022 group stages before they breezed past Senegal.The free-scoring Three Lions recorded another big win to set-up a mouthwatering quarter-final against France – what could go wrong?Italy 1-2 England, Euro qualifiers, 2023On a night when Harry Kane became England’s all-time top scorer, the Three Lions recorded a first away win over Italy since 1961.It was the first game since their 2022 World Cup exit, and it ensured a perfect start to their Euro 2022 qualifying campaign.England 2-1 Holland, Euro 2024 sem-finalThe nation doubted Southgate’s men in the semis of Euro 2024, but they responded with a barnstorming display.Xavi Simons opened the scoring for the Dutch but Harry Kane’s penalty drew us level.And Ollie Watkins slotted in a brilliant winner in injury time to see the Three Lions into their second successive Euros final.AND THE LOWS….Croatia 2-1 England, World Cup semi-final, 2018Having led England to a first World Cup semi-final since 1990, Southgate men made a dream start as Kieran Trippier put them ahead in the early exchanges.But Ivan Perisic equalised as the Croats began to take control.Some of Southgate’s substitutions were then questioned after his team were beaten in extra-time, although many gave him the benefit of the doubt as he returned a hero.Italy 1-1 England (3-2 pens) Euro 2020 finalWill probably never get a better chance to have secured a trophy for the Three Lions than this final of the last European Championship.Luke Shaw gave us the lead after just seconds, but just like against Croatia three years earlier, we sat back and let our rivals back into it.Leonardo Bonucci duly equalised in the second half and the game eventually went to penalties.The unfortunate Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all brought on to take a spot-kick, but the brave trio all missed as the Azzurri broke our hearts to take the prize.England 0-4 Hungary, Nations League 2023A year on from the Euros and it was utter embarrassment for Southgate in this Nations League game at Molineux.It was our biggest home defeat since 1928 and the result led to England being relegated from the top group of the Nations League and back to one that contained the Republic of Ireland, Finland and Greece.England 1-2 France, World Cup 2022 quarter-finalsAnother case of what could have been.Having been free-scoring throughout Qatar 2022, many fancied us to go all the way at the World Cup despite taking on the holders in the quarters.We fought back from going behind to level through Kane and many believe that France were then there for the taking had Southgate deployed a more attacking approach.Instead, they seemed content with what they had until Olivier Giroud pounced 12 minutes from time to win it.But there was still one more twist of the knife for England as the usually-reliable Kane skied a late penalty over the bar uncharacteristically as we crashed out. 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      Ex-Liverpool ace Djibril Cisse facing PRISON after being accused of tax evasion with Champions League winner owing £660k

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      FORMER Liverpool star Djibril Cisse is facing a prison sentence after being accused of tax evasion in France.The France striker spent two seasons at Anfield, scoring 24 goals in 82 games and winning the Champions League before leaving for Marseille in 2006.Djibril Cisse is facing a prison sentence after being accused of tax evasionCredit: ReutersCisse won the Champions League and FA Cup with LiverpoolCredit: AP:Associated PressCisse will find out the verdict on his case on November 13Credit: AP:Associated PressCisse won 41 caps for France and scored a total of nine goalsCredit: AFP – GettyCisse. 43, later played for Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers.  He now works as a DJ and a pundit.But prosecutors told a court on Wednesday that they want the ex-international to receive a one-year suspended jail term and £85,000 fine.The hearing at Bastia criminal court went ahead in Cisse’s absence.  It is due to give its verdict on November 13.The trial heard an account set up to handle Cisse’s tax affairs was £465,000 in debt.Read More on FootballProsecutors claimed the ex-player was guilty of tax evasion for not having declared this sum to France’s equivalent of HMRC.Meanwhile Cisse was said to owe a further £195,000 from failing to declare VAT revenue on his income from image rights.Cisse’s lawyer Malcolm Mouldaia told the court: “He has been going through this case for years.  He owes huge sums to the tax authorities.”There can be no case of money laundering, as there is no tax fraud on his part.Most read in Football”He has had problems with his accountancy firm, as they have not handled his case well – and they have not kept him informed.”Liverpool paid Auxerre £14million for Cisse in 2004, and he helped them win the Champions League and FA Cup.Djibril Cisse shows off new bizarre bright blue and polka-dot haircut He left for Marseille, initially on loan, and went on to play in Greece, Italy, Qatar, Russia, Reunion and Switzerland as well as Sunderland and QPR.Cisse won 41 caps for France, scoring nine goals.Cisse allso played for Sunderland before moving to Greece, Italy, Qatar, Russia, Reunion and SwitzerlandCredit: AP:Associated Press More

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      Newcastle cough up £10million to settle long-running HMRC spat from Mike Ashley’s ownership

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      NEWCASTLE UNITED have coughed up £10million to settle a long-running tax battle with HMRC – including millions in legal fees and costs from the row.The club faced a £6.25m bill – before lawyer costs and interest was added on.Newcastle coughed up £10m to settle a long-running tax battle with HMRCCredit: GettyNewcastle owners the Public Investment Fund ended a long-running spat from Mike Ashley’s ownershipCredit: AlamyTax experts believe the final cost could even top £10m after HMRC added an additional 10 years worth of interest payments on top.One footie expert said: “The final cost to the club is extremely likely to have tipped over £10million, once HMRC’s compound interest rates are factored in.”The Geordies’ owners Public Investment Fund agreed to fork out the multi-million sum to the tax man to end a long-running spat that dated back to Mike Ashley’s ownership.Despite fighting the tax bill through the courts, PIF also secretly paid out millions to stop further interest charges being added.Read More on FootballAn investigation into agents’ fees and Newcastle had been going on since 2014.In April 2017, as part of a criminal investigation, officers raided the club and seized documents and computers.Nine months after the raid, the club was hit with the demands for unpaid taxes for the period between 2011 and 2017.The criminal investigation was dropped in 2021.Most read in FootballHowever, the High Court last year agreed with HMRC’s demands for the club to pay £4.25m in unpaid national insurance contributions and £2m in unpaid VAT payments.The club said in its most recent accounts: “Newcastle received assessments from HMRC relating to alleged underpayment of tax and national insurance, and interest thereon arising from HMRC activity prior to 2017.says Jamie Carragher as he warns Newcastle that Eddie Howe will leave for dream job if he isn’t happy”The group appealed and made a cash payment which halted the further interest on any outstanding amounts. “The amount that has been claimed by HMRC has been assessed and an accrual has been made in the Group’s financial statements.” More

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      ‘Top footballer’ fighting costly legal battle with tax chiefs to keep his identity secret set to be named in weeks

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      A HIGH-profile figure fighting a costly legal battle with tax officials in a bid to keep his name secret is thought to be a top footballer.He has spent an estimated £50,000 protecting his anonymity — and probably hundreds of thousands on costs for the whole case.
      A high-profile figure is fighting a costly legal battle with tax bossesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The person in question is thought to be a ‘top footballer’Credit: Getty
      It is not known how much of a potential tax bill he is trying to fight off but it is likely to be hundreds of thousands more.
      But he is set to be named in the next two weeks after High Court judges ruled this month it was “highly unusual” to allow his identity to be concealed.
      Tax experts believe he is a footballer or ex-player because he has apparently been involved in more than once tax avoidance scheme.
      Many aces were advised to invest in such vehicles that HMRC later cracked down on.
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      Football stars also often set up companies to receive image rights money, which is then liable for corporation tax at a lower rate than income tax.
      The wrangle began in 2019 when the star appealed to the First Tier Tribunal “tax court” about deductions HMRC denied him for income tax purposes.
      He then applied for anonymity at a hearing in July 2021.
      That September, the FTT said the preliminary proceedings should be heard in secret to protect his private or family life and keep “sensitive information” out of the public domain.
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      HMRC appealed, arguing that the FTT decision “erred in law”.
      Now High Court Upper Tax Tribunal judges have ruled the star should be named.
      Dan Neidle, founder of think tank Tax Policy Associates, said: “Tax appeals are almost always public, so it is outrageous someone is trying to fight HMRC behind closed doors.
      “And our best guess is it’s a footballer or ex-footballer.” More

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      Ex-England ace Emile Heskey facing bankruptcy in latest battle with taxman

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      FORMER England star Emile Heskey was facing bankruptcy last night in his latest battle with the taxman.The ex-Liverpool striker — whose net worth was estimated at £12million in 2009 — has had financial woes since joining a celebrity investment scheme now at the centre of a £1.6billion tax dispute.
      Emile Heskey is facing bankruptcy in his latest battle with the taxmanCredit: Getty
      The former England star has had financial woes since joining a celebrity investment schemeCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      He has been hit with a High Court bankruptcy petition filed by HMRC — setting off alarms for a string of VIPs.
      Dad-of-six Heskey, 45, was last year found to have defaulted on £92,000 of tax while working as a football development officer between 2017 and 2020.
      He was handed a £42,000 penalty.
      Meanwhile, the trendy bar he ran with wife Chantelle in posh Alderley Edge, Cheshire, was wound up by the courts with £163,000 of debts.
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      It was unclear whether the court case arrears were related to the investment scheme or his business flop.
      Heskey has recently been involved in the running of Leicester City’s women’s team and supporting the England under-18s squad.
      The tax scheme was among those run by Ingenious Media, a financing company which funded more than 60 movies.
      David Beckham, Ant and Dec and Robbie Williams are among the famous names who pumped in cash, with a minimum £50,000 stake required.
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      Clients were said to have been able to claim tax relief against most of their payment.
      Other stars linked to the scheme included Liverpool greats Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and ex-Newsnight host Jeremy Paxman.
      Gerrard and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber were among investors reported in 2019 to be suing HSBC for “dishonestly assisting” Ingenious Media.
      Take That singers Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen have already repaid £20million.
      They insisted they had paid significant tax and believed the investments were legitimate enterprises.
      But Barlow later admitting it was “the stupidest thing I have ever done”.
      HMRC and Heskey were approached for comment. More

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      I made £40,000 a WEEK as a Premier League star and captained my country at World Cup… now I can’t even afford a phone

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      A PREMIER league star was raking it in on £40,000 a week during his playing days but now can’t even afford a phone.In the mid 2000s Lucas Neill was a footballing hero as captain of West Ham and played in the 2006 World Cup.
      Lucas Neill played 79 games for West Ham and captained the sideCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Neill in action for West Ham against Spurs in April 2009Credit: Getty
      He was living the high life too, with a Ferrari in his garage and holidays in the Maldives.
      Nowadays, Neill, 45, lives a very different life having gone bankrupt and was recently facing three years behind bars as he stood trial for failing to declare money he never knew he had.
      He had been accused of concealing more than £2million from creditors.
      As he battled his financial problems the lights would often go out because he didn’t have the money to top up his pay-as-you-go meter.
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      Last Monday though, a jury at Preston Crown Court took just 26 minutes to acquit him of the charges.
      Neill told The Times: “I’ve won my freedom, but I feel like I’ve lost in life.”
      During his financial hardship, his wife Lindsey Morris, a beauty therapist and personal trainer, became the breadwinner, as he only had his £900-a-month footballer’s pension.
      He blames himself completely for his financial ruin.
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      Neill, who is a dad-of-two, said: “I feel like I didn’t protect my family… And that hurts. I let my family down.”
      The Professional Footballers’ Association has warned that between 10 to 20 per cent of professional players go bankrupt when they retire.
      Nell had been advised to pump vast sums of money into a scheme which gave the promise of investing in British films in return for a huge tax break.
      The scheme appeared to be legitimate and were pushed heavily by accountants and financial advisers and the government had championed the investment tax relief.
      But the taxman eventually came sniffing around and forced those who invested in them to repay the money they claimed, which in many cases totalled up to tens of thousands of pounds.
      Neill said: “People say they want to advise you. Help you. People just constantly want to take a tiny slice out of you. Telling you they’re going to add value to what they’re doing. That’s just a lesson for all footballers.”
      He added: “Do you need these professional financial advisers? I was very successful in the world of football, but I clearly wasn’t ready for this other world — the world of business. And I’ve learnt the hard way.”
      HMRC told him he owed £400,000 and he had to sell seven or eight properties, losing money on each one, to pay it back.
      He then defaulted on a NatWest loan he had taken out to pay for a barn near Newcastle, which was held in an offshore fund.
      Neill was left owing the bank £737,000 – and was declared bankrupt in 2016.
      He said: “People couldn’t believe it, but I had nothing left. That was my rock bottom.
      “After 20 years of a football career and all this hard work, I’ve got nothing to show for it.”
      During a meeting with the insolvency service he was meant to list all his assets, but forgot to mention the 144 acres of land he had bought around the barn.
      The insolvency service investigated Neill for seven years, so he was unable to own his own home, or even take out a mobile phone contract.
      When he went bankrupt, the repossessed 144 acres was sold for £3m by a lender and after the loan was settled, the remaining £2.1m was put into Neill’s offshore trust.
      Neill claims he never knew about this but the insolvency service accused him of hiding the money from his bankruptcy proceedings.
      Now he has been found not guilty he is starting to rebuild his life and he also wants to find out what happened to the offshore funds.
      His defence lawyer, Joseph Kotrie Monson, of Mary Monson Solicitors, said: “Why would somebody ever put their family through all the pressure of bankruptcy, if they knew they had enough money in a bank account to pay off the debt and still have a million left over?”
      He’s now coaching women and girls at a football club and working as a project manager for a local digital firm.
      Neill also captained his national side AustraliaCredit: AFP
      Having been acquitted of the charges, Neill, seen here in 2015, is now rebuilding his lifeCredit: Getty More

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      Football clubs and players ordered to pay record £166million in unpaid tax last season

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      FOOTIE clubs and players coughed up a record £165.8million in unpaid tax last season, figures reveal.It included £124.8million from clubs and a whopping £37.7million from stars.
      A staggering £165 million was recoverd by HMRC from football clubs and players in unpaid taxCredit: Alamy
      And it is the most recovered since a tax avoidance probe into the sport was launched in 2015.
      Figured obtained by The Sun on Sunday show a record 384 footballers are under investigation for tax avoidance — up from 329 last year.
      Some 27 clubs and 82 agents are also being probed.
      Players who paid up include stars in the Premier League, where clubs have spent £2.44billion on new players for this season, which is liable for VAT.
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      Arsenal paid West Ham £105million for Declan Rice.
      And Chelsea topped that with £115million for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.
      The probe by HM Revenue & Customs has recovered £725million in all. It is part of a crackdown on tax avoidance linked to image rights deals.
      Cash is paid to a firm set up by a player — subject to 19 per cent corporation tax not 45 per cent income tax.
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      Clubs also pay agents commission which HMRC aims to tax. More

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      England football legend avoided bankruptcy with 11th-hour payment to HMRC

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      FORMER Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has avoided bankruptcy with an 11th-hour payment to the taxman.An HMRC official told an insolvency and companies court yesterday that the money he owed had been paid in full.
      John Barnes has avoided bankruptcy with an 11th-hour payment to the taxmanCredit: PA
      A hearing in February was adjourned to allow “settlement negotiations”.
      Megan Vanderhook, who represented HMRC, indicated that Barnes, 59, owed at least £200,000.
      She told that hearing  the ex-Watford ace had repaid £100,000.
      Barnes was not in court yesterday, instead represented by his barrister.
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      The Jamaica-born midfielder has since tried his hand as a manager, author, commentator and pundit.
      He was declared bankrupt in 2009 over tax debts just days after being fired as head coach at Tranmere Rovers.
      At the time, Barnes said the issue was a “tax oversight”.
      The order was later rescinded.
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      According to Land Registry documents, the World in Motion rapper was also the subject of bankruptcy petitions in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2019. More