Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has been served with a bankruptcy petition by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) over an unpaid tax bill, according to reports.
Petition Details
The petition, which is a legal step that can lead to a court making a bankruptcy order, relates to a tax debt that Carragher is said to owe. The former footballer, who is now a prominent television pundit, has not commented publicly on the matter.
Sources close to Carragher indicated that the issue stems from a misunderstanding and that the debt is expected to be settled shortly. The petition is understood to have been issued in relation to a sum that is a fraction of Carragher's estimated wealth.
Background and Response
Carragher, 48, made 737 appearances for Liverpool and won the Champions League in 2005. He has since built a successful media career, working as a pundit for Sky Sports and other outlets.
It is understood that Carragher's advisors are in contact with HMRC and that the matter is likely to be resolved without a court hearing. The former defender is not thought to be in financial difficulty, and the petition is seen as a technicality rather than a sign of insolvency.
HMRC regularly issues bankruptcy petitions against individuals and companies that fail to pay tax debts, but the majority of cases are settled before a court hearing takes place.
