Jamie Carragher faces potential bankruptcy after HMRC files tax petition

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is at risk of being declared bankrupt over an unpaid tax bill after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) petitioned the High Court in London.

The petition was submitted on Wednesday, according to the Daily Mail, which reported the development involving the former England international.

An HMRC spokesperson told the Daily Mail Sport that the organisation generally works with people who owe tax and attempts to help them resolve their debts before taking legal action.

“We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts, and do all we can to help those we engage with clear their debts, such as offering payment plans. We only seek bankruptcy as a last resort.”

The petition does not mean that Carragher has been declared bankrupt, but it places the former Liverpool player at risk of that outcome if the tax dispute is not resolved.

Carragher, who played his entire professional career for Liverpool, is now a regular football analyst. He works on Premier League coverage for Sky Sports and also appears on CBS Sports’ UEFA Champions League programming in the United States.

He is also a regular guest on Stick to Football, the football podcast operated by Gary Neville’s media company, The Overlap.

During his Liverpool career, Carragher made 737 appearances for the club and scored four goals. His long association with Liverpool ended after he had spent his entire playing career at Anfield.

HMRC said that it tries to support customers with outstanding tax liabilities and can arrange instalment plans to help them repay what they owe. However, the organisation said bankruptcy proceedings are only pursued when other attempts to settle the debt have not succeeded.

The High Court petition is therefore the latest development in a tax dispute that could have serious financial consequences for Carragher, who remains a prominent figure in football broadcasting through his work with Sky Sports, CBS Sports and The Overlap.

The former defender’s media commitments have kept him closely involved in coverage of the Premier League and the Champions League since his playing career ended. His broadcasting work includes regular appearances as an analyst, while his participation in Stick to Football has made him a continuing presence in football discussion away from live match coverage.

Carragher represented Liverpool throughout his football career, making 737 appearances and scoring four times. He is now facing the possibility of bankruptcy because of the unpaid tax bill, with HMRC’s stated preference being to reach an arrangement before using bankruptcy proceedings as a last resort.