Former England international footballer John Barnes has opened up to All Things Business – The Podcast about his battle to put his side of the story after a series of damaging articles regarding his financial situation.
John, who also played for Watford, Liverpool and Newcastle, has been working with HMRC for eight years to pay taxes that accrued because John was unable meet his liabilities due to losing money as a result of poorly advised investment decisions.
Despite the fact that he has made payments adding up to £2.2m to HMRC since 2017, and is currently paying £10,000 per month, reports in some national newspapers have, he believes, misrepresented the situation.
Speaking to Ben Thomas on The Podcast, John said: “I was making a lot of money, I was the first £10,000 a week footballer and benefited from that for a few years. Like a lot of elite sportspeople, I got burned because I trusted people, I got caught out a couple of times and ended up losing between £1m and £1.5m over four years.
“In 2017, I began talking to HMRC about what I could do to repay what I owed.”
Since then, when he has been served petitions, he and his legal representatives have gone to court to make arrangements to pay because John is insistent he does not want to be made bankrupt.
“I know how hard it is for people out there,” said John. “I don’t want to say there are loopholes, or that I can get away with this or that, or have people think I can be made bankrupt and keep my assets, because I’ve already sold everything. I don’t have any assets.
“But every time something new comes up, stories appear in the press saying negative things about how I am not paying my taxes, even though I’m going to court, not to be made bankrupt, but to ask for permission to keep paying.
Football is a working-class sport, and I don’t want hard working people thinking I’ve got all this money and I won’t pay tax. It would be easy to be made bankrupt because they can’t take anything else from me.”
Negative stories surrounding his finances have impacted on a regular line of work for John, which was speaking about inclusion and diversity in business – particularly the banking and financial sector, who he says have, understandably, stopped inviting him to speak.
He is still earning through professional engagements and doesn’t allow the struggle he’s had with HMRC to affect his attitude towards life.
He said: “I’ve had a few sleepless nights, but it’s not had a major impact because I look at the way the world is and there are lots of people struggling more than me. And as long as I am able to work and to pay, I am just thankful. What have I got to complain about?
“But what does matter is that I reassure people, and the reason I am speaking about this now because the narrative around me is so negative.
“I have been so fortunate in my life to still be able to work and pay my bills and my kids have a roof over their head and food on the table. The only reason I’m doing this is because people have been saying things that are not true, and I don’t want anyone thinking of me as John Barnes, ex-professional footballer, hiding all his money and not paying taxes.”
Watch the full episode here – https://youtu.be/4O2NgRI0Cs0
