HMRC files bankruptcy petition against Jamie Carragher over unpaid tax bill

HM Revenue and Customs has filed a bankruptcy petition against Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender turned television pundit, over an unpaid tax bill, with the filing confirmed in official court records on Wednesday.

The Insolvency and Companies Court, a specialist division within the High Court, handles such petitions. No further details about the size or nature of the debt have been made public.

A spokesperson for Carragher moved quickly to address the situation. “This is a private tax matter that should have been resolved sooner, and the appropriate steps are being taken today to settle it,” the spokesperson told BBC Sport. “It is understood that the matter will not proceed any further and will be resolved imminently.”

HMRC confirmed its position on the use of bankruptcy proceedings. “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and do everything we can to help those who engage with us to get out of debt, such as offering instalment plans,” a spokesperson said. “We only petition for bankruptcy as a last resort.”

Carragher, 48, spent his entire professional career at Liverpool, making 737 appearances for the club before retiring in 2013. He was a key member of the squad that won the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005 and has since established himself as one of the most prominent football analysts in British broadcasting.