HMRC wins appeal in Rangers tax case

FOOTBALL: HM Revenue and Customs won its second appeal yesterday over the so-called “big tax case” involving payments to former Rangers employees.

The court ruling, summarised on the Judiciary of Scotland website, agreed with HMRC’s contention that the scheme amounted to “a mere redirection of earnings which did not remove the liability of employees to income tax.”

The judges ruled that the “true nature” of the payments to Rangers players were bonuses, which were typically negotiated by their agent and formalised in a “side-letter” separate to their official contract.

Benzema quizzed over sex tape

FOOTBALL: France striker Karim Benzema was arrested yesterday as part of an investigation into a blackmail case over a sex tape involving another player.

Police are trying to find out what role the Real Madrid forward played in the extortion attempt targeting France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena and if he actually tried to blackmail the Lyon player.

Three other people have been handed preliminary charges since October.

Gopperth given three-week ban

RUGBY UNION: Wasps fly-half Jimmy Gopperth was handed a three-week ban yesterday after pleading guilty to striking Leicester’s Mathew Tait on Sunday.

Gopperth was sent to the sin-bin in the second half after colliding with Tigers back Tait in mid-air as they attempted to catch a kick.