Jamie Carragher avoids bankruptcy after settling HMRC tax bill

Jamie Carragher has avoided bankruptcy after settling an outstanding tax bill with HMRC, the Liverpool Echo reports. Judge Nicholas Briggs dismissed the petition against the former Liverpool defender, 48, at the Insolvency and Companies Court in London on Tuesday.

The petition was filed in August and first reported on August 27. HMRC’s representative, Kevin Hassan, told the hearing the debt had been settled, though no figure was disclosed. It was previously said to be around $1million (£750,000).

A spokesperson for Carragher told the Echo: “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.”

HMRC does not comment on individual cases, but a spokesperson said: “We only petition for bankruptcy as a last resort.”Carragher made 737 appearances for Liverpool, second only to Ian Callaghan.