Carragher turns bankruptcy scare into live TV punchline as Richards dissolves in laughter

Jamie Carragher cracked a joke at his own expense during CBS’s Champions League coverage this week, referencing his well-publicised bankruptcy threat in a moment that left co-pundit Micah Richards laughing and host Kate Abdo smiling.

The former Liverpool defender is facing a bankruptcy petition over an unpaid tax bill reported to be between £700,000 and £800,000. A case has been filed against James Lee Duncan Carragher, according to the BBC, though a spokesperson said the matter is expected to be resolved quickly: “This is a private tax matter that should have been resolved sooner, and the appropriate steps are being taken today to settle it. It is understood that the matter will not proceed any further and will be resolved imminently.”

The self-deprecating moment came as the panel discussed Barcelona, who reached the Champions League quarter-finals last season but have not lifted the trophy since 2015. Carragher was making the case for the La Liga champions to return to the summit of European football after their own well-documented financial difficulties.

“I think it’s about time we saw Barcelona back in terms of competing where they should be — one of the best teams in the world, one of the biggest teams in the world,” Carragher said on air. “They’ve had their financial problems, haven’t they?” After a brief pause, he added: “Haven’t we all.”

The line landed immediately, with Richards breaking into laughter beside him.

Carragher went on to express his hope that, if Liverpool do not win the competition, Barcelona would be his pick to claim the title. The Catalan club open their campaign at home to Feyenoord, before facing Aston Villa and Manchester City later in the group stage.

The bankruptcy story broke last September alongside reports that up to 200 current and former footballers may have lost tens of millions of pounds through failed tax schemes, with some losing their homes.