The English darts player Rob Cross has been found guilty of tax evasion. The former world champion concealed approximately 450,000 pounds (about 530,000 euros) from the English tax authorities. The penalty does not affect his darts career.
The 34-year-old Cross is prohibited from acting as a director of his company, Rob Cross Darts Limited, for five years due to his violation. That company was set up to collect his prize money and other earnings.
It has also been established that Cross withdrew more than 300,000 from the company between 2020 and 2023, while that money was intended for creditors.
“To pay off part of his debts, Cross entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), an agreement in which he is obliged to make regular payments to a trustee. The monthly contributions that Cross makes to the IVA vary depending on the income he receives through his performances at darts tournaments in this year and future years,” reads a statement from the government.
Cross became world darts champion in 2018. More than seven years ago, he was too strong for Phil Taylor in the final. He is currently in ninth place on the Order of Merit, the world ranking based on prize money from the past two years.
According to darts association PDC, Cross earned just over 500,000 pounds in the past two years.