Rooney in deep trouble with taxman over movie project

LONDON: Wayne Rooney’s (pic) tax bill over a suspected avoidance scheme could top £5mil (RM26mil).

It was claimed Rooney, 30, had put £12.5mil (RM64.5mil) in a film investment project – allowing him to pay no tax for three years on his £4mil-a-year (RM21mil) Manchester United salary.

The England captain, who played in their 2-0 win over minnows Malta, was said to have faced a £3.5mil (RM18mil) tax demand as a result.

But the true amount is £1.5mil (RM7.7mil) more after HMRC inspectors started investigating three schemes, one of which is called Invicta 43.

Meanwhile an ex-international, who played in the English Premier League for three years, told how he and other players are facing financial ruin over similar schemes.

The foreign star said he has been left with a tax bill of “hundreds of thousands” after ploughing money into investment company FMG Wealth.

He said the firm, whose directors include former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish, persuaded stars to invest in Invicta 43.

The ace, who asked not to be named, said: “A player is more likely to trust a company which has a football legend like Dalglish attached to it.

“I am really angry. I wasn’t warned the schemes were not approved by the taxman.”

Ex-United defender Wes Brown and Senegalese former player Abdoulaye Faye, who was at Newcastle and Stoke, also invested in Invicta 43.

There is no suggestion Dalglish was involved in Rooney’s investment or acted wrongly.

Nor is there any suggestion that any named investor has behaved illegally or will not be able to pay.

Tax avoidance schemes recommended to players by now-defunct FMG include Cobalt Data Centres 2 LLP and Cobalt Data Centres 3 LLP.

Rooney, who has been investigated four times in five years by HMRC, denies wrongdoing.

A spokesman for the player said: “Wayne’s tax affairs have always been conducted in full compliance with the law.”

A source said: “Wayne has not yet received a demand over this. He has invested in two or three schemes that are under scrutiny.”