Ex-England footballer John Barnes bankruptcy petition dismissed

Former forward John Barnes had paid the money owed, a special hearing was told

A bankruptcy petition lodged by tax officials against former Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes has been dismissed.

Judge Mark Mullen was told by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officials a debt had been paid by Barnes at a specialist court hearing in London.

The judge was also told the star owed money to another creditor who planned to file a separate bankruptcy petition.

He said he would reconsider the new claim on 22 January.

Barnes, 60, did not attend the Insolvency and Companies Court hearing and was not represented by a lawyer.

The judge was told that he was facing another claim, from the liquidators of John Barnes Media Ltd, which Barnes used to run.

Barrister Honor Brocklebank-Fowler, who represented the liquidators, told Judge Mullen that a "director's loan" was "outstanding".

Ms Brocklebank-Fowler said Barnes had been the sole director of the company, which went into liquidation earlier this year.

She said the liquidators, specialist insolvency practitioners, wanted to lodge a separate bankruptcy petition but gave no indication how much money was involved.

'Able to pay'

Judge Mullen dismissed the bankruptcy petition lodged by HMRC and said he would reconsider the John Barnes Media liquidators' claim on January 22.

Another judge considered the HMRC claim at a hearing in September.

Judge Catherine Burton was told by an official from HMRC that Barnes owed £238,000.

Barrister Nathan Webb, who represented Barnes at the September hearing, told Judge Burton that his client "just" needed time to pay.

He said Barnes was employed by Liverpool Football Club "on a salary of £200,000" and was "very well and able to pay".

A different judge dismissed another bankruptcy petition lodged by tax officials against Barnes in June.

An HMRC official had indicated, during that earlier litigation, that Mr Barnes owed at least £200,000 and said money owed had been paid.

Barnes played for Watford, Liverpool and Newcastle.

He also won 79 England caps between 1983 and 1995 and was head coach at Celtic after ending his playing career.

In November 2022, Liverpool FC said Barnes, who works as a television pundit, had been appointed as a club ambassador - a role that would see him "represent the Reds at home and abroad".

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