Ninety Premier League footballers are being investigated by HMRC for tax evasion

THE number of footballers being probed for alleged tax evasion has doubled to 90.

HMRC is also checking on 38 clubs and 13 agents.

Inspectors believe many players have set up companies in tax havens to receive millions from image rights rather than wages.

The two are treated as separate income streams since a 2000 court ruling.

Tax experts told a parliamentary hearing in January they were looking into 43 players.

Updating the figure the HMRC said: “We are making enquiries into 90 footballers, 38 football clubs and 13 agents for a range of issues including image rights abuse.”

The taxman has clawed back more than £260million in unpaid tax since targeting football.

Kevin Foy

The clubs under the spotlight are in the Premier League, Championship and Scottish Premier League.

In April HMRC raided Newcastle United and West Ham.

Rex Features

Last December Tory MP Charlie Elphicke used a Commons speech to accuse Wayne Rooney and his ex-club Manchester United of tax dodging.

Earlier this year Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi was forced to pay a huge fine to Spanish authorities after being convicted of a breach of the country’s tax laws.

EPA