Arshavin demands huge pay rise ...
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Arsenal striker Arshavin demands huge pay rise ... because taxman takes half his £80k a week
Pay claim: Andrey Arshavin in St Petersburg, Russia
A millionaire Premier League football star has demanded a huge pay rise – because he is shocked by Britain’s high tax rates. Andrey Arshavin, who earns £80,000 a week, is renegotiating his Arsenal contract after being ‘unpleasantly surprised’ at his income tax bills, which in his native Russia were only 13 per cent.
The move by the Arsenal striker is expected to lead to a wave of similar pay claims by other top players. They are understood to be preparing to renegotiate their contracts in order to absorb the controversial new 50p tax rate for 750,000 top earners on more than £150,000 per annum, which is being introduced next April.
Last night, Mike Warburton, one of Britain’s leading tax experts, said the Premier League revolt was a ‘big issue’ which could result in top players going overseas to enjoy lower tax rates.
Arshavin, 27, scored four goals in a top performance in the league match at Liverpool last month which ended in a 4-4 draw. He discovered his take-home pay was lower than in Russia, even though his gross salary at Arsenal is far higher than at his previous club, Zenit St Petersburg.
He said: ‘I have a problem with my contract. Certain nuances emerged linked to taxation and some other things. As a result, I’m getting less money than I expected. It’s not critical but I still need to put it right. My agent is now taking care of it. My advice to other Russian players who may move to England in the summer is to take contract matters more seriously.
‘It’s important to understand clearly and in detail what money you are going to get and what taxes to pay, so that there are no unpleasant surprises of the kind I am facing now. Nothing should be done in a rush.’
Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo – who earns a reputed £125,000-a-week – would face an increase of about £670,000 a year in his tax bill under the new rate of 50p in the pound. Others who would be affected include Chelsea stars Frank Lampard, who earns £140,000 a week, his team-mate John Terry (£135,000), Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (£120,000) and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (£115,000).
In Europe, although players are paid less than in the Premier League, their take-home pay is in some cases higher because of lower income tax rates. In Spain the top tax rate is only 25 per cent, in France it is 40 per cent, in Italy 43 per cent and in Germany it is 45 per cent.
Mr Warburton, senior tax partner at accountants Grant Thornton, said last night: ‘I have a number of business clients who are thinking of moving to Switzerland because of the tax rates moving up.
But this is even more applicable to footballers because they have an international mobility. They can ply their trade in countries around the world.
‘The new 50p rate is a big issue which is in danger of forcing many top players overseas.’ Premier League clubs anticipate players demanding salaries net of the tax rises.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger warned last month that the Premier League would lose its domination of the transfer market because of the new 50 per cent tax rate.
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nowadays he talk alot huh?
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wah the tax rate no joke sia..
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Originally posted by zocoss:
In Europe, although players are paid less than in the Premier League, their take-home pay is in some cases higher because of lower income tax rates. In Spain the top tax rate is only 25 per cent, in France it is 40 per cent, in Italy 43 per cent and in Germany it is 45 per cent.
Regret not going Barca now la.
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Bolshevik money-grubbing slav....
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already 1 mth liao,
they still mentioned the four goals from the liverpool match. =.=
50yrs later,
arshavin dies at 79.
the former arsenal player famously scored 4 goals at liverpool 50 years ago.
=.=
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Originally posted by ChoCoChips:
already 1 mth liao,
they still mentioned the four goals from the liverpool match. =.=
50yrs later,
arshavin dies at 79.
the former arsenal player famously scored 4 goals at liverpool 50 years ago.
=.=
who still mention ?
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the article.
plus other articles on him.
u go see
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80,000 sterling pounds , per week , he still want a rise ?
Minus off everything , he gets about 40,000 pounds per week , 160,000 sterling per mth .... equivalent to SGD 480,ooo ... he's still complaining ?
For a normal russian to earn 160,000 sterling pounds , it might take their whole lifetime to earn that amount .
Well , if he comparing the wages of the likes of Lampard , Gerrard and Terry .... then i can laugh it off ....