Former England Star Trevor Sinclair Declared Bankrupt Over £36K Tax Debt

Trevor Sinclair, the former England and Premier League footballer, has been declared bankrupt after failing to pay a £36,424 tax bill related to his media work, with a judge accusing him of “burying his head in the sand” over the debt.

The Tax Dispute Unfolds

• HMRC pursued bankruptcy after Sinclair, 52, ignored repeated demands to settle the bill, which included:
• £13,000+ in unpaid taxes (2021-22 tax year)
• Outstanding National Insurance & penalties
• The ex-winger missed court hearings and provided no repayment plan, leading Judge Caroline Wilkinson to rule he was “unable to pay his debts”

From Pitch to Financial Trouble

• Played for QPR, West Ham, and Man City; 12 England caps (including 2002 World Cup)
• Transitioned to punditry post-retirement, but faced setbacks:
• 2018: Convicted of drink driving and racially abusing a police officer
• 2022: Removed by talkSPORT after controversial tweet about Queen Elizabeth II’s death

Failed Last-Chance Reprieve

In April, Sinclair’s lawyer claimed he had a potential job offer in Saudi Arabia and blamed the debt on accountant errors after his tax advisor died.

The judge warned him to “wake up”, but he defaulted again, prompting yesterday’s bankruptcy order.