Falmer and The Championship dream = more ££££

[clippedgull]

Although this doesn't concern us as much now as it hopefully will, it just shows how revenue is eaten up by the taxman. £7.2 million will be just one such figure.

Manchester United’s rates at Old Trafford will go up by £1.3 million, with rivals Arsenal paying £1.4 million more in taxes at the Emirates and Liverpool £746,500 more for Anfield.

In the Championship, Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium and the Madejski, home of Reading, will both see increases of more than £300,000.

Overall, teams in the Premier League will see their annual business rates bill rise by £9.8 million from £12.2 million to £22 million, while the 24 clubs in the Championship face a tax increase of 2.1 million to £7.2 million, up from £5.1 million this year.

The worst-hit clubs are set to see their rates go up by more than 220 per cent when the Government begins using a new system of valuation for business properties — the corporate equivalent of council tax — next year.

Justine Greening, the shadow communities and local government minister who revealed the figures, said: “Even football, our national sport, is not safe from Gordon Brown’s tax rises.

“If clubs pass on these extra costs, it could mean even higher ticket prices for fans. I’m sure many will think it is time to show this Government the red card.”

Business rates are a tax levied on non-domestic buildings owned by companies or other organisations, and are set annually by the Government but collected by local authorities.

The new rates are based on the latest revaluation, which take place every five years and which are established from an estimate of a property’s rental value.

In the case of football stadiums, this is worked out from a combination of revenue received from home games, the club’s performance and place in the league, stadium facilities, television fees and sponsorship.

 

[jordanseagull]

One Word - cun'ts.