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| Portsmouth tax appeal dismissed | Portsmouth tax appeal dismissed |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Portsmouth FC could become the first Premier League club to go into administration after failing to block a petition from HM Revenue & Customs. | Portsmouth FC could become the first Premier League club to go into administration after failing to block a petition from HM Revenue & Customs. |
| HMRC had applied for a winding-up petition against Portsmouth on 23 December but the club argued that the VAT part of its tax bill was too high. | HMRC had applied for a winding-up petition against Portsmouth on 23 December but the club argued that the VAT part of its tax bill was too high. |
| However, a High Court judge dismissed Portsmouth's claim and the hearing is expected to go ahead on 10 February. | However, a High Court judge dismissed Portsmouth's claim and the hearing is expected to go ahead on 10 February. |
| The outcome could send Portsmouth a step closer to administration. | The outcome could send Portsmouth a step closer to administration. |
| Nobody from Portsmouth was immediately available for comment. | Nobody from Portsmouth was immediately available for comment. |
| "At the High Court today Mr Justice Newey dismissed an application from Portsmouth City Football Club Limited for a winding-up petition to be struck out," a spokesperson for the Judicial Communications Office said. | "At the High Court today Mr Justice Newey dismissed an application from Portsmouth City Football Club Limited for a winding-up petition to be struck out," a spokesperson for the Judicial Communications Office said. |
| "A further hearing to consider HMRC's winding-up petition will take place in due course." | "A further hearing to consider HMRC's winding-up petition will take place in due course." |
| HMRC said it welcomed the High Court's decision. | |
| "We now expect that, subject to any appeal, the petition will in due course be heard by the High Court in the usual way," a spokesperson said. | |
| Transfer ban | Transfer ban |
| Portsmouth has found itself in financial difficulties this season - failing to pay its players on time on three separate occasions. | |
| Last week, the Premier League diverted £7m in television revenue payments to other clubs which were still owed transfer fees by Pompey. | Last week, the Premier League diverted £7m in television revenue payments to other clubs which were still owed transfer fees by Pompey. |
| However, Portsmouth executive director Mark Jacob said the club had directed the Premier League to pay only £5m, and so it was in fact owed £2m. | However, Portsmouth executive director Mark Jacob said the club had directed the Premier League to pay only £5m, and so it was in fact owed £2m. |
| The Premier League has also banned the club from operating in the transfer market. | The Premier League has also banned the club from operating in the transfer market. |
| The Fratton Park club won the FA Cup in 2008, but since the departure of manager Harry Redknapp, its fortunes on the pitch have declined. | The Fratton Park club won the FA Cup in 2008, but since the departure of manager Harry Redknapp, its fortunes on the pitch have declined. |
| The club is currently bottom of the Premier League. | The club is currently bottom of the Premier League. |
| If the club were to go into administration, it would face an automatic nine-point deduction. | If the club were to go into administration, it would face an automatic nine-point deduction. |