17.02.2015 13:07 h

Premier League stars face tax investigation - report

Belgian tax authorities are investigating Luxembourg bank accounts held by English Premier League stars Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin Mirallas, De Morgen newspaper reported Tuesday.

The Flemish daily said the Belgian internationals have Luxembourg based companies they use to transfer money. Luxembourg taxes are considerably lower than in Belgium.

Teenager Divock Origi, who Liverpool have loaned to French side Lille was also named in the report.

Hazard and Courtois are team-mates at Chelsea while Mirallas turns out for Everton.

Such practices are legal if the players can "prove that the company is run from Luxembourg, which is naturally difficult (to prove)", according to an expert quoted by De Morgen who added that the players involved risk penalties.

Last November the 'Lux Leaks' scandal revealed secret structures used by international clients, including major multinationals, to avoid taxes with tax avoidance schemes in Luxembourg.