Article: Sports clubs accuse Brown over tax vow

SPORTS CLUBS across Britain have accused Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, of reneging on a pledge to reduce their tax burden by thousands of pounds a year.

Mr Brown announced the measure to much fanfare in last year's budget. The Government proposed that sports clubs would be exempted from tax on savings, bequests and gifts and given 80 per cent business rate relief.

The clubs now say, however, that they will not be able to qualify for the tax breaks unless they select players for "enthusiasm" as much as ability.

New Treasury guidelines say that clubs with a "restricted" membership, such as those which select by ability, will not qualify.

The guidelines will also mean that sports clubs whose ...

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