England legend’s son forced to give up World Cup medal over £200k Inheritance Tax row

One 1966 World Cup winners’ medal sold for £200,000 four years ago (Mirrorpix via Getty)

The son of Jack Charlton claims he has been forced to give up his World Cup winners’ medal due to a £200,000 Inheritance Tax bill.

Jack Charlton, the older brother of fellow England legend Bobby, started at centre-back in England’s 4-2 win over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final.

He died aged 85 in 2020 after suffering from lymphoma and dementia.

John Charlton received the 1966 World Cup medal as part of his father’s will, but he has left it with his 91-year-old mother, Pat, in order to avoid paying a huge sum in tax.

‘Funny enough, me and Eddie [Howe] were talking about his medal,’ John said in an interview with talkSPORT.

‘I think there’s only him and my uncle Bobby who have kept their medals. Everybody else doesn’t have them anymore.’

Jack Charlton died aged 85 in 2020 after suffering from lymphoma and dementia (AFP via Getty)

Asked where his father’s medal is, John said: ‘I’ve got it.

‘Well, there’s a bit of a problem with it, actually. When I say I’ve got it, it was left to me in my dad’s will, but the tax man wants £200,000 off me in Inheritance Tax.’

In the UK, Inheritance Tax is a 40 per cent tax on the estate – money, property, and possessions – of someone who has died, but only applies to the portion that exceeds a standard tax-free threshold of £325,000.

In 2022, Alan Ball’s 1966 World Cup winners’ medal was sold at auction for £200,000.

The 1966 World Cup winners’ medal (Getty)

Jack (left) was the older brother of fellow former England World Cup legend Sir Bobby (Getty)

Asked if he will have to sell the medal, John replied: ‘No, I’ve given it back to my mother because whilst she’s got it, I don’t have to pay that money.