Hartlepool Owners Dodge Tax Using ‘Havens’

A report in the Sunday Times this morning has highlighted Hartlepool United as one of 22 British clubs whose owners are based in ‘tax havens’ to avoid paying tax in Britain.

The report says that HUFC are legally based in the British Virgin Islands with 15 Premier League sides, 5 Championship clubs and two SPL sides also controlled by holding companies based abroad. This allows them to use untaxed income to fund their clubs.

This process is completely legal but HMRC are said to be looking at the situation. Analyst Mike Warburton explained it would be disastrous for Britain if these tax havens were banned.

”The growing number of clubs owned through tax havens partially reflects just how attractive British football clubs have become to the world`s wealthy as an investment opportunity.”

”British football clubs are important for our economy and it would be unwise for the government to do anything to jeopardise that.”