TESTING EXTENDED

THE Premiership’s Covid testing programme has been extended thanks to a “generous contribution” from Linfield and Coleraine.

Weekly testing for top flight clubs and officials was introduced last month for an initial four-week period.

It has now been confirmed that the programme will continue for a further four weeks.

The NI Football League said the second phase was made possible following financial support from Linfield and Coleraine “as the clubs that represented the league in UEFA Club Competitions this season.”

NI Football League Chairman Gerard Lawlor (right) said: “The health and wellbeing of players, coaches and officials remains paramount to the NI Football League and the continuation of testing alongside strict compliance to Covid-19 protocols gives everyone involved a level of reassurance.

“On behalf of the NI Football League, I would like to express sincere gratitude to Linfield and Coleraine for supporting this next phase of testing following their successful exploits in European competitions.”

Phase two of the testing programme begins the week commencing Monday, February 15 with all participating players, coaches and match officials being tested as before.

AGENTS have been told to supply a new “tax return” style statement of earnings to their players.

FA chiefs are having a major purge on agents who are already feeling the heat from the taxman on dual representation deals.

But the new FA instruction has gone down badly with some agents.

This is because they must declare their earnings from each player by the end of October, similar to tax returns having to be submitted by the end of January.

It has been designed to keep players up to date but also to allow the FA to keep a check on agents, although few seem ready to follow the order because they do not think it will be strictly enforced.

There are also fears that it may give an advantage to rival agents if they gain inside knowledge and there is general mistrust of the new rule. Several agents are also being investigated by the taxman over dual representation deals which FIFA want to outlaw.

For example, if an agent earns £100,000 in commission working solely for the player, said player must pay 40 per cent tax on that figure as a benefit in kind.

But if an agent was paid £100,000 working for both player and club, then the player will only be taxed on his slice of the commission

However, it is down to the agent to prove via Whatsapps and emails that he worked for both parties – and several are struggling to do so.

An HMRC spokesperson said: “We continue to work with the football industry to educate players, clubs and agents about the tax risks associated with agent fees and other income related to their profession.”