http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4404022/VAT-on-5-a-side-football.html EXCLUSIVE By DAVID WOODING, Associate Political Editor Last Updated: 01st July 2012 FIVE-a-side footie fans were in uproar last night at a new £1 per player TAX on the sport. 149 comments Related Stories Osborne U-turn on charity tax GOVERNMENT to scrap plans to limit tax relief on charitable giving The Sun Says George Osborne fuels hope of more tax cuts Cheryl hails our pasty tax win Thousands who use all-weather pitches for games were told to stump up the levy. It follows a ruling by the taxman that the hiring of them is liable to VAT at 20 per cent. Players previously exempt and typically paying £4.50 each for a kickabout face a rise of almost a quid. Horrified five-a-side leagues were left fearing for their futures as skint players warned the new tax grab may force them to quit the sport. Barry Hunter, who runs dozens of leagues, raged: âItâs a kick in the teeth.â Players using around 150 sites across Britain will be hit after leagues were deemed for the first time to be hiring from commercial sports companies. Fury ... ex-Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe The decision was immediately condemned by MPs â 30 of whom signed a Commons petition against it. The knock-on effect if pitch owners feel the pinch could jeopardise free daytime use of the surfaces currently enjoyed by up to 600,000 schoolkids. Former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: âIt is crazy.â Yesterday five-a-side fans across Britain, including Simon Beck, John Calvert and Dan Rust, told The Sun of their disgust. IT manager Simon, 33, from Norwich, said: âItâs hardly going to get school children interested in sport. Last night the taxman said: âSupplies made by commercial sports league providers are liable to the standard rate of VAT.â An outrage By HARRY REDKNAPP, Sun Columnist THIS is just diabolical. Itâs absolutely disgusting. Weâre always being told how hard it is to get kids to switch off their computer games and play in the fresh air â yet this makes it a bit harder to do that. People may say a couple of quid shouldnât make much difference. But added up over a month or year, it could mean the difference between a hard-up family getting involved in football or not. And itâs not just kids it will affect. Lots of working people who graft hard all day look forward to a five-a-side game. Itâs a great way to relax, blow off steam and keep fit. This is outrageous. F'ing disgrace!
