The Treasury faces a wave of demands from international sports stars that they be exempt from tax when they compete in the UK, to match the tax waiver announced in the Budget for foreign-based footballers.

The Treasury faces a wave of demands from international sports stars that they be exempt from tax when they compete in the UK, to match the tax waiver announced in the Budget for foreign-based footballers playing in next year’s Champions League final at Wembley.

A Budget resolution made provision “to exempt certain persons from income tax in respect of certain income arising in connection with the 2011 Champions League final”. The move was requested by Gerry Sutcliffe, sports minister, because the taxation issue was proving a stumbling block in the Football Association’s attempt to persuade European counterpart Uefa to bring its high-profile final to Wembley.