Jamie Carragher Faces Bankruptcy Over Unpaid Tax Bill

Jamie Carragher is facing a bankruptcy petition 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 filed on Wednesday against James Lee Duncan Carragher, the former Liverpool and England defender who has become one of the most prominent pundits on British television.

The petition has been brought by lawyers acting for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The action was first reported by City AM.

Carragher and his representatives have been approached for comment.

HMRC declined to discuss the specifics of the case, but a spokesperson for the department stressed its general stance on tax debts, saying it adopts a “supportive approach” and works with those who engage with it, including through instalment plans. Bankruptcy petitions, the spokesperson added, are used only “as a last resort”.

Carragher, who made more than 700 appearances for Liverpool between 1996 and 2013, has built a high-profile media career since retiring, featuring regularly on Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage, the Stick To Football show and CBS Sports’ Champions League broadcasts.

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

For one of English football’s most familiar voices, the next few days will determine whether this remains a brief off-field scare or becomes a defining financial stain on a celebrated career.