John Barnes, the renowned former footballer for England and Liverpool, is now facing a bankruptcy petition lodged by tax authorities. A specialist court in London recently held a hearing concerning Barnes’ case, which the former footballer was not present for.
The presiding judge, Catherine Burton, heard from an official from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that Barnes was in debt to the tune of £238,000. However, at this juncture, the judge made no definitive rulings and decided to reevaluate the situation on the 29th of November.
Nathan Webb, the barrister representing Barnes, made a case for his client, stating to the judge that Barnes simply required more time to pay off his dues and requested a delay in the process. Webb also stated that Barnes, presently on the payroll of Liverpool FC with a solid salary of £200,000, is fully capable of paying the debt.
Webb reassured Judge Burton, stating, “Mr Barnes is very well and able to pay. He just requires a bit of time.”
It’s not the first time Barnes has faced such allegations. Back in June, a bankruptcy petition against him filed by tax officials was dismissed by a different judge. During these earlier proceedings, it had been indicated that Barnes owed at least £200,000. However, officials from HMRC had confirmed that the owed sum had been paid off.
Barnes, age 59, who also played for Watford and Newcastle, holds an illustrious career in football. He has proudly represented England in 79 fixtures between 1983 and 1995. Following his playing career, he took up the mantle of the head coach at Celtic.
The recent hearing on his bankruptcy issue was overseen by Judge Burton at the Insolvency & Companies Court.
