John Barnes, the ex-England footballer, has been banned from being a company director because of outstanding taxes totaling more than £190,000 related to his media business that provided representation services. The Insolvency Service has imposed a three-and-a-half-year disqualification on Barnes from holding directorial positions as a consequence of his company's failure to pay taxes on its income exceeding £400,000.
The Insolvency Service revealed that John Barnes Media Limited, the company owned by Barnes, did not meet its tax obligations between 2018 and 2020, leading to its liquidation in May the following year after HM Revenue and Customs initiated a winding-up petition. An investigation by the Insolvency Service began in September, following which Barnes, who founded the company in September 2012, agreed to a disqualification undertaking, preventing him from participating in company promotion, establishment, or management without legal approval. Mike Smith of the Insolvency Service emphasized that Barnes had a responsibility to ensure his company was paying the correct corporation tax and VAT, emphasizing the impact of non-compliance on government funding for essential public services like schools and hospitals.
Despite his illustrious football career with major clubs like Liverpool and Newcastle United and his 79 caps for England and managerial stints with teams like Celtic, Barnes faced financial challenges attributed to lavish spending habits during his playing days. His retirement saw him becoming involved in business ventures such as co-founding Team 48 Motorsport, which aimed to support young racing drivers from African-Caribbean backgrounds. However, this venture was eventually dissolved. Barnes has openly acknowledged his past financial struggles and extravagant purchases, like an Aston Martin and expensive clothing, during his footballing years.