10 May 2010Portsmouth could face further points penalty

Football Clubs News | Football Finance News

Troubled south coast club Portsmouth could be hit with a 17-point deduction for next season, according to a report.

According to the Daily Mail, the recently-relegated team - who will take on Chelsea in next week's FA Cup final - now face an additional £15 million bill from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over image rights, on top of their existing arrears of £138 million.

The side's administrator Anthony Andronikou said: "This is a warning to a number of larger clubs employing international players. If [HMRC] are successful against Portsmouth, it will have a significant knock-on effect."

HMRC is reportedly looking into the wider issue of image rights, believing it to be a tax loophole operated by almost all English Premier League outfits. Manchester United have already come under scrutiny from the taxman.

Portsmouth bade farewell to English football's top flight with a 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park, with manager Avram Grant's future still to be decided.

Written by Terry Mitchell

Join the FFC and have your say on football

© Copyright