Tax probe into 39 clubs and 100 players
THE tax affairs of more than 100 footballers, 39 clubs and 13 agents are under active investigation by the British taxman. HM Revenue and Customs are chasing millions in unpaid tax from players who they suspect of abusing image rights loopholes and taxavoidance schemes. They are also working closely with their counterparts across Europe as part of an international crackdown. In Spain, super-agent Jorge Mendes is accused of helping star clients including Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao of failing to declare income from image rights by routing it through a network of offshore shell companies. Mendes and his clients deny the allegations. HMRC will not comment on ‘identifiable individuals’ but a spokesman told
Sportsmail: ‘HMRC carefully scrutinises the arrangements between football clubs and their employees in respect of any image right payments to make sure the right tax is paid. We are currently making enquiries into the tax affairs of 67 footballers, 39 football clubs and 13 agents concerning a range of issues, including image rights abuse and are looking into more than 100 footballers in relation to the use of tax avoidance schemes. ‘HMRC works closely with its international partners, sharing information to ensure tax is correctly accounted for and paid in the relevant country.’ These figures represent a significant increase on the last to be released, in December, when 43 players, 12 clubs and eight agents were under investigation by HMRC. Newcastle and West Ham were raided by HMRC officers in April. Computers, mobile phones and financial records were seized as part of a coordinated operation across the UK and France into suspected income tax and National Insurance fraud. ‘This is an ongoing investigation,’ said an HMRC spokesman. On Thursday, the Paris Saint-Germain academy was raided and searched by French police acting on behalf of the national taxation agency. It follows raids last month on PSG’s offices and the homes of players Angel di Maria and Javier Pastore. The raids are part of a probe launched in December after claims by about large-scale tax evasion by some players and clubs. Di Maria has agreed to pay €2million to a Spanish court after admitting to fraud relating to image rights during his time at Real Madrid. He, too, is a client of Portuguese agent Mendes, who has strong links in English football, not least at Wolves.