HMRC files bankruptcy petition against Jamie Carragher over unpaid tax debt

HM Revenue and Customs has filed a bankruptcy petition at the High Court against Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender and television pundit, court records have confirmed. The formal legal document names him by his full legal name, James Lee Duncan Carragher, and lists him as a litigant in person during the proceedings.

A spokesperson for Carragher moved quickly to play down the severity of 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 statement read. “It is understood that the matter will not proceed any further, and will be resolved imminently.”

HMRC declined to comment on the specifics of the case, citing confidentiality laws, but offered a broader explanation of its approach to tax debt. “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, retired from professional football in 2013 after a distinguished career at Liverpool and has since built a prominent media profile. He is reported to earn up to £1 million per year as a Sky Sports analyst and also works with CBS Sports and features regularly on The Overlap podcast. His net worth has previously been estimated at over £16 million, with reports suggesting he earned as much as £5 million per year at the peak of his playing career.

Despite the legal attention, Carragher is set to continue his broadcasting commitments. He is scheduled to appear on Monday Night Football alongside Thierry Henry and presenter David Jones, as part of coverage of Aston Villa’s Premier League fixture against Arsenal, with the programme due to begin at 6.30pm.