David Beckham may be famous for his swerving free-kicks but he is now is facing an investigation into whether he is swerving taxes following his move to French side Paris Saint-Germain.
The former England captain signed a five-month contract with PSG in January and is making his debut tonight.
In an apparent altruistic gesture, Beckham announced he was donating his salary, believed to be £700,000 a month, to a local children’s charity.
Dubbed ‘Le Spice Boy’, the 37-year-old has faced accusations the donation is a cynical plan to dodge France’s high income tax rate.
Jean-Claude Blanc, managing director at PSG, admitted a ‘formal discussion’ was already taking place with France’s ‘fiscal administration’.
A spokesman for the French Treasury declined to discuss ‘individual cases’, but confirmed that all ‘high-worth’ individuals working in France would be ‘scrutinised’.
By keeping his family in London and only signing on a short-term deal, Beckham will not be liable for a 1.5 per cent tax on his worldwide income and estimated wealth of £200million – a bill of at least £3million.
A spokesman for Beckham said: ‘David has given any income he would have earned from PSG to charity. We have nothing to hide.’
But the ploy has caused consternation in France, with MP Gérald Darmanin saying: ‘He will be paid less than my parliamentary assistant. Be serious.’
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