BALLER LEAGUE HIT WITH WINDING-UP PETITION
UPDATE: Since publication of this article HMRC has agreed to withdraw the winding up Petition. Baller League UK has said it is fully up to date and wholly compliant with HMRC in its VAT submissions and tax affairs.
Baller League, the celebrity and influencer-packed football competition, has been hit by a winding-up petition from HM Revenue & Customs less than a year after its UK launch.
Former footballers Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Micah Richards, John Terry, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Jens Lehmann, Luís Figo, Daniel Sturridge, England Women hero Chloe Kelly, Hollywood star Sir Idris Elba, and Love Island host Maya Jama have been among those recruited as managers for the 12-team, six-a-side, indoor league.
Players have included Troy Deeney, Marvin Sordell, Henri Lansbury, Jordon Ibe and Ciaran Clark.
They have been joined by a number of social-media influencers such as “Angry Ginge”, while YouTuber KSI was named president of the UK edition, which also secured a one-year broadcast deal with Sky Sports.
But three days after the end of its second season, HMRC has applied for Baller League UK Ltd to be wound up.
Organisers declined to comment on the petition, but a source told Telegraph Sport it had been filed after Baller League submitted its VAT returns two weeks late and that it was in fact owed money by HMRC.
The first season of the league began in March and took place at London’s Copper Box Arena, with Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso appearing as pitchside commentator on one occasion.
The final four matches – the play-offs – were staged on June 12 at the O2, where Oscar-winning actor Will Smith introduced the teams. It was won by SDSFC, managed by YouTuber Sharky.
The second season took place at the Copper Box and was won by Wembley Rangers AFC, managed by Shearer and Wright.
A US edition has also been announced, with managers including Usain Bolt and Ronaldinho.
Baller League originated in Germany in 2024, created by entrepreneur Felix Starck, with backing from World Cup winners Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski.
The competition follows a six-a-side format with 12 teams, each consisting of a 12-player squad selected through a draft system. Matches last 30 minutes, divided into two 15-minute halves.
The league also incorporates several unique rules:
- Game changer: Each team have the opportunity to introduce a game-changer card before kick-off, allowing the implementation of special in-game modifications.
- Rule twists: Introduced during the final three minutes of each half, including three vs three, long-range goals counting as double and goalkeepers not allowed to use their hands.
- Wild cards: Managers also get two wild cards per game week, which means they can bring anyone to feature in their team for that match.
- Corners: There are none – instead, if the ball goes off an opposing player and behind the goal three times, a penalty is given.
- Penalty: If a penalty is awarded, a player will perform a Major League Soccer-style one-vs-one penalties against the goalkeeper with only six seconds on the clock to try to score.
- White flag: Managers can throw in a white flag to challenge a refereeing decision.
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2026-01-14T20:45:43Z