Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher is facing a potential bankruptcy order over an unpaid tax bill reportedly worth between £700,000 and £800,000.
Documents seen by the BBC indicate that a bankruptcy petition was filed against Carragher, whose full name is James Lee Duncan Carragher, on Wednesday by lawyers acting for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
HMRC declined to comment specifically on Carragher’s case but said bankruptcy petitions are only pursued as a last resort when dealing with outstanding tax debts.
A spokesperson said the tax authority takes a supportive approach to customers with tax debts and can offer options such as instalment plans to those who engage with them.
Carragher’s representatives have confirmed that the issue is being addressed, describing it as a private tax matter that should have been resolved earlier.
“This is a private tax matter that should have been resolved sooner, and the appropriate steps are being taken today to settle it,” a spokesperson for Carragher told the BBC.
They added that the matter is expected to be resolved imminently and will not proceed further.
Carragher spent his entire senior club career at Liverpool between 1996 and 2013, making more than 700 appearances for the Reds.
He has since established himself as a prominent football pundit, regularly featuring on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage, Stick to Football and CBS Sports’ Champions League programming.