John Barnes in bankruptcy threat over £300,000 unpaid tax bill

• Former England star’s financial woes were detailed at High Court hearing
• The football icon faces further court hearing to decide his fate in February
• He was previously declared bankrupt in 2009 and blamed it on an ‘oversight’ 

John Barnes is facing threat of bankruptcy

Football legend John Barnes is facing the threat of bankruptcy over an unpaid tax bill of more than £300,000.

The former England and Liverpool winger’s legal woes were revealed in a High Court hearing yesterday.

Barnes, who won 79 caps, was previously in hot water with HMRC in 2009 when he was declared bankrupt. He said at the time the matter was due to ‘a tax oversight’ and the decision was overturned.

But Barnes is now back in HMRC’s firing line and a full hearing to determine his fate will take place in February.

Barnes, 59, recently sparked controversy by accusing the British public of ‘bullying’ Qatar.

Barnes told fans from western countries to ‘stop lecturing’ the World Cup hosts on their human rights record.

Born in Jamaica, Mr Barnes spent 10 years at Anfield, but also played for Watford and Newcastle United. He went on to manage Celtic, Jamaica and Tranmere Rovers.

He won two league titles and two FA Cups with Liverpool. He was also named Footballer of the Year award in 1988 and 1990.

Mr Barnes, who was not present at Tuesday’s hearing, was contacted for comment.

A spokesman for HMRC said: ‘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. We only petition for bankruptcy as a last resort.’

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