Former Liverpool defender and television pundit Jamie Carragher has been hit with a bankruptcy petition by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over an unpaid tax bill.
Court records show that HMRC issued the petition against the 48-year-old on Wednesday afternoon, placing the matter before the Insolvency and Companies Court, a specialist division of the High Court that deals with bankruptcy cases.
However, Carragher’s representatives have moved to play down the situation, insisting the private tax matter is already being addressed and is expected to be resolved shortly.
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.”
The development does not currently mean Carragher has been declared bankrupt.
A bankruptcy petition is a legal step taken by a creditor seeking a bankruptcy order over an alleged unpaid debt.
HMRC confirmed that it had taken action but stressed that bankruptcy proceedings are generally viewed as a last resort when dealing with tax debts.
“We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and do everything we can to help those who engage with us to get out of debt, such as offering instalment plans,” said an HMRC spokesperson.
“We only petition for bankruptcy as a last resort.”
The precise value of Carragher’s outstanding tax bill has not been made public, and court records currently provide no further details about the case.
That leaves the former England international facing a potentially serious legal matter, although his camp’s statement suggests efforts are already underway to settle the issue.
Carragher spent his entire professional playing career at Liverpool, making 737 appearances for the club before retiring in 2013.
The former defender was a key member of the Liverpool squad that famously lifted the Champions League trophy in 2005 after the dramatic comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul.
Following his retirement, Carragher successfully transitioned into broadcasting and established himself as one of the most recognizable football analysts in the UK.
He has since become a prominent pundit for Sky Sports and CBS Sports, regularly offering outspoken analysis on the Premier League and European football.
His latest comments on Liverpool’s transfer business have also attracted significant attention, with Carragher frequently providing strong opinions on the club he represented throughout his playing career.
For now, the focus is on whether the tax dispute is settled as Carragher’s spokesperson indicated.
The legal process could move further if an outstanding debt remains unresolved, but his representatives have stated that appropriate steps are being taken to bring the matter to an end.
With no further details publicly available about the amount involved or the precise circumstances behind the petition, it would be premature to suggest that Carragher is facing bankruptcy itself.
The immediate issue is therefore the petition over the unpaid tax bill—and whether the reported settlement can close the matter before further legal action is required.
For one of Liverpool’s most recognisable former players, an off-field financial dispute has suddenly become a major talking point.
But if Carragher’s representatives are correct, the controversy could be short-lived.
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