SHELBOURNE FC DEALING WITH TAX BILL PROBLEMS

Adjust font size:

The eircom League Premiere Division club was issued a “winding up” order by Irish taxing authorities after the club missed a monthly tax bill of GBP 12,000 in December. The tax bill was part of a larger sum of GBP 250,000 owed. Shelbourne – which won its 12th league title in 2004 – had an April 3 deadline imposed by Revenue Commissioners. The order was officially issued against Accolade Ltd., the trading name of the club.

The club’s chief executive, Ollie Byrne told The Irish Star: “We will resolve the issue by April 2.”

According to Ireland’s Football Association (FAI), the club will have to resolve the matter itself, with John Delaney, the Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI’s) chief executive saying, “We can no longer bail out clubs under the UEFA licensing system,” said “We couldn’t help one and neglect the others. We have to preserve the integrity of the licensing system.”

Critics argue that Shelbourne’s tax debt calls into question the degree of enforcement used by the FAI regarding licensing criteria.