Jamie Carragher Faces Bankruptcy Threat Over Unpaid Tax Bill

Jamie Carragher is facing the threat of bankruptcy over an unpaid tax bill understood to be between £700,000 and £800,000.

Court documents seen by the BBC confirm that a case was lodged against James Lee Duncan Carragher on Wednesday, with lawyers acting on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) filing a bankruptcy petition. The action was first reported by City AM.

HMRC declined to discuss Carragher’s situation directly but outlined its general stance on tax debts. A spokesperson said the organisation takes a “supportive approach” to people who owe money, stressing that it works with those who engage with them, including by setting up instalment plans. Bankruptcy petitions, the spokesperson added, are used only “as a last resort”.

Carragher and his representatives have been contacted for comment.

The former Liverpool defender, a one-club man at Anfield between 1996 and 2013, has become one of the most prominent pundits in the game since retiring. He is a regular presence on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage, features on the Stick To Football show, and appears on CBS Sports’ Champions League broadcasts.

Later on Wednesday, a spokesperson for Carragher moved to play down the prospect of the case progressing. In a statement to BBC Sport, they described the situation as “a private tax matter that should have been resolved sooner”, adding that “the appropriate steps are being taken today to settle it”.

The spokesperson said it is understood the petition will not go any further and that the issue is expected to be resolved imminently.