Paradise Papers: Gary Lineker hits out at Twitter trolls after backlash over 'tax-dodge' claim

Gary Lineker: The star's comments on Twitter came after he was named in the Paradise Papers
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Gary Lineker has hit back at Twitter trolls over claims he may have dodged tax after buying a Barbados holiday home using an offshore firm.

It comes after the Match of the Day presenter was named in the Paradise Papers, a set of confidential documents leaked to a German newspaper relating to offshore investment.

The news emerged just three days after the former England captain tweeted that he would “sleep very soundly” knowing he had paid his taxes.

Following a stream of criticism from social media users, the ex-footballer hit back on Twitter by saying the transaction was “all transparent and above board”.

His response came after he was asked publicly by a journalist why he decided to buy the luxury home through an offshore company and if he knew of the tax benefits of doing so.

Replying to the reporter, Mr Lineker wrote: “As far as I knew it was a bog standard arrangement encouraged at the time by Barbados to encourage folk to buy/build there, thus generating employment and tax revenue.

“Property paid for with earnings already taxed in UK. All transparent & above board.”

As many took to Twitter to bombard the Walkers Crips advert star with accusations that he did not pay his taxes “properly”, he later added: “I do pay my taxes properly and thoroughly however hard some will attempt to claim otherwise.”

It comes after the sportsman, 56, was tweeted by a member of the public asking how he was feeling in light of the leak, which revealed several celebrities are making use offshore accounts.

Twitter user Michael Leach asked: “I wonder if Gary Lineker is sleeping soundly with the release of the Paradise Papers?”

Mr Lineker responded: “I’ll sleep very soundly. Rather doubt I’ll be mentioned as I happily pay my taxes. Thanks for your concern.”

The presenter was named in Paradise Paper reports over an arrangement - known as a method that has legal tax advantages - which he made in relation to the property.

It is clear in the reports that the method Mr Lineker used made it possible to avoid paying tax, rather than that he had definitely "dodged" tax.

The Guardian, one of many media organisations involved in dissecting the leak, wrote: "The register shows Lineker co-owned a Barbados home through Goalhanger that was sold on to new owners in 2010. Lineker’s representatives said there had been “no tax irregularity”.

"They said the sale had been declared to HMRC and all taxes due in the UK and abroad on the sale of the company had been paid in full."

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