chris_glasgow 2 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 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. Sitting pretty: Andrey Arshavin at an event in Moscow this year 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. Andrey Arshavin Pay claim: Andrey Arshavin in St Petersburg, Russia 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. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Frank Lampard Tax increases: Chelsea star Frank Lampard would be affected by the new 50p tax rate. Lampard is pictured here with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. ‘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.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...f-80k-week.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFRFC 10 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Go back to Russia then Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_RFC87 766 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 there's a reason why the tax rates are higher than Russia Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allzo 91 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 80 grand a week and he's complaining? Fuck off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy2212 151 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I'm amazed arsenal have agreed to renegotiate - whats to stop the rest of their superstars demanding the same thing - before you know it - it becomes ridiculous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangersAndy 0 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 this may be shite. he seems a level headed guy in interviews Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin93 136 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Fucking cunt if true. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastEnclosureBear 3,024 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I'd be telling him get tae fuck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueballss 3,036 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 80 grand a week and he's complaining? Fuck off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david271994 0 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 He is doing nothing wrong IMO. Just getting some more money from his club and the taxes are shocking and he is losing half his pay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy2212 151 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 He is doing nothing wrong IMO. Just getting some more money from his club and the taxes are shocking and he is losing half his pay. so david , the government increase my income tax from 22% to 30% and i go to my boss to ask for a raise to pay for it what bridge do you think he will ask me to jump off Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 9 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I completely agree with him - tax in this country for high earners is theft. Just because you earn more you pay more to the government? Why, exactly? Everyone should be taxed at the same level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 9 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 He is doing nothing wrong IMO. Just getting some more money from his club and the taxes are shocking and he is losing half his pay. so david , the government increase my income tax from 22% to 30% and i go to my boss to ask for a raise to pay for it what bridge do you think he will ask me to jump off I mean he's being cheeky in asking for a pay rise, but I understand his reasons for doing so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TunnyLoyal 1,136 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 He is doing nothing wrong IMO. Just getting some more money from his club and the taxes are shocking and he is losing half his pay. so david , the government increase my income tax from 22% to 30% and i go to my boss to ask for a raise to pay for it what bridge do you think he will ask me to jump off If your really really really good at driving your truck Tommy and a complete asset to your company then maybe then you could ask for the big pay rise due to high taxes!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david271994 0 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 He is doing nothing wrong IMO. Just getting some more money from his club and the taxes are shocking and he is losing half his pay. so david , the government increase my income tax from 22% to 30% and i go to my boss to ask for a raise to pay for it what bridge do you think he will ask me to jump off I mean he's being cheeky in asking for a pay rise, but I understand his reasons for doing so. Exactly mate. You are being taxed for being succesful. He should just put his money in a swiss bank account or somthing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_RFC87 766 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I completely agree with him - tax in this country for high earners is theft. Just because you earn more you pay more to the government? Why, exactly? Everyone should be taxed at the same level. Progressive tax is widely used in the Western world. Fixed levels would be very unpopular in this country, with the lowest earning 95% of the population. Perhaps the level of progressive tax is too different and thus why it's so unpopular. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluenoseGaz 27 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 What a greedy selfish prick! if i was wenger i'd boot him back tae russia , if i was a football player a grand a week would be my dream! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 9 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I completely agree with him - tax in this country for high earners is theft. Just because you earn more you pay more to the government? Why, exactly? Everyone should be taxed at the same level. Progressive tax is widely used in the Western world. Fixed levels would be very unpopular in this country, with the lowest earning 95% of the population. Perhaps the level of progressive tax is too different and thus why it's so unpopular. With the lowest earners paying 10% and the highest at 40% there is a real discrepancy there. I am totally against high earners having to pay more to the government simply because they're wealthier. That's beyond unfair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 9 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 What a greedy selfish prick! if i was wenger i'd boot him back tae russia , if i was a football player a grand a week would be my dream! If you were a football player you'd be losing so much money through tax. And that's the problem. It's his fairly earned money, so why should he have to lose so much of it to the government? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy2212 151 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 With the lowest earners paying 10% and the highest at 40% there is a real discrepancy there. earning £210 a week knocking your pan in, earning £80,000 a week doing a few training sessions maybe not even getting a first team game - isn't there a real discrepancy there too. I know there are successful but all i see is the 80k a week - it would take me 3 years to earn that i hope im not coming across as jealous i just think they get paid too much in the first place Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david271994 0 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 With the lowest earners paying 10% and the highest at 40% there is a real discrepancy there. earning £210 a week knocking your pan in, earning £80,000 a week doing a few training sessions maybe not even getting a first team game - isn't there a real discrepancy there too. I know there are successful but all i see is the 80k a week - it would take me 3 years to earn that i hope im not coming across as jealous i just think they get paid too much in the first place At the end of the day £80,000 is the going rate for his services just like £2000 for someone to fit new windows but the window man doesnt get half his wage took off him. At the end of the day the tax is to high and punishes successful people to pay for people to sit on the giro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 9 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 With the lowest earners paying 10% and the highest at 40% there is a real discrepancy there. earning £210 a week knocking your pan in, earning £80,000 a week doing a few training sessions maybe not even getting a first team game - isn't there a real discrepancy there too. Yes, but that's the fault of the clubs, tv companies and fans for throwing so much money into the game that said clubs can afford this kind of wage across the board - it doesn't make the players who receive the money less entitled to it. I know there are successful but all i see is the 80k a week - it would take me 3 years to earn that i hope im not coming across as jealous i just think they get paid too much in the first place It's a vulgar sum, no disagreeing there. But it's the players' fairly earned vulgar sum. It's up to the club to choose to pay them that much. If they do so, that money should belong to the player (with a lower level of tax) just like with lower income earners like the rest of us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 9 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 With the lowest earners paying 10% and the highest at 40% there is a real discrepancy there. earning £210 a week knocking your pan in, earning £80,000 a week doing a few training sessions maybe not even getting a first team game - isn't there a real discrepancy there too. I know there are successful but all i see is the 80k a week - it would take me 3 years to earn that i hope im not coming across as jealous i just think they get paid too much in the first place At the end of the day £80,000 is the going rate for his services just like £2000 for someone to fit new windows but the window man doesnt get half his wage took off him. At the end of the day the tax is to high and punishes successful people to pay for people to sit on the giro This thread's gonna end up in debates at this rate Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommy2212 151 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 If your really really really good at driving your truck Tommy and a complete asset to your company then maybe then you could ask for the big pay rise due to high taxes!! maybe not really really really I'm alright Pepsico doesn't do impulse pay rises at all you would be laughed at, all pay rises are based on the highest average of what our competitors pay their staff every september. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnstoneBear 0 Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 He can have my job in ASDA and I'll play for Arsenal then... Moaning faced cunt. 80 grand a week and he has the cheek to complain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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