Five-a-side football to be charged VAT: Q&A More than 150 sites across the country would have to pay the tax, potentially adding millions of pounds a year to their bills How could players be affected? Leagues say they would be forced to pass on the tax to individual players, costing about an extra £1 per player per match - or up to £100 a year for someone playing twice a week. Clubs say this will inevitably reduce the number of people playing football. How many people play five-a-side? About 1,143,700 people play "small-sided" football, including five-a-side, once a week in England. But this figure includes some who do not play in leagues that would be taxed. How much money will it raise? Leagues have played down how much revenue the exchequer could raise, saying the tax will cost them dearly without handing much income to the Government. They estimate it would generate less than £5 million a year. Who opposes the plan? Gerry Sutcliffe, the Labour MP and former sports minister, said the price rise could put people off sport. Hugh Robertson, the Sports Minister, has also questioned the tax, according to a leaked memo to David Gauke, the Treasury Minister. He raises his concerns over "the detrimental effect VAT on small-sided football leagues could have on the sport"