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THE CREDIT CRUNCH STRIKES
Agent demands Arshavin wage boost to cover tax

By Soccernet staff
June 9, 2009

Andrei Arshavin's agent has called on Arsenal to increase the star's £80,000-a-week wage packet to compensate for tax increases imposed by the British government.


The Russia forward agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract when he signed from Zenit St Petersburg for £15m just four months ago. Next April the top rate of income tax will rise from 40% to 50% and agent Dennis Lachter wants the Gunners to alter the terms of Arshavin's deal to compensate his client.

"The British Government has suddenly started to solve their problems through the crisis of people who earn big money in the UK," Lachter told the Daily Mail. "If a player has signed a contract, it is logical that there were certain obligations from the club on the money that the player receives.

"Now suddenly, this tax rate change. The question arises: why, in this situation, must the player suffer? So, a club must deal with the problem."

But Lachter insisted that the government rather than the club is to blame, adding: "This [financial] crisis will affect not only Andrei Arshavin, but Frank Lampard, Cristiano Ronaldo, the Queen of England, and so on."