British tax officials target players in clampdown

Britain's tax authority has launched a clampdown on tax evasion in football to ensure players are not dodging payments during the country's economic turmoil.

A specialist team within Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is investigating whether any footballers are exploiting a loophole during transfers by getting their agents' fees paid by the buying club or a third party.

The tax authority says it is ''aware of a potential tax issue concerning the payment of agent fees and are taking steps to ensure the tax rules are respected.''

HMRC says that ''when a third party pays a fee to an agent acting on behalf of an employee, the fee may count as part of the employee's taxable earnings and so be liable to tax.''