EXCLUSIVE
A sports software company fronted by rugby league great Anthony Minichiello has collapsed under a $1.3million tax debt, with the Roosters legend potentially having to pick up the bill.
Minichiello was one of two original directors of Sports Foyer which the Federal Court declared insolvent and ordered be wound up earlier this month, on the retired NRL star’s 44th birthday.
It can also be revealed Sports Foyer’s former secretary John Issa is a convicted fraudster who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for scams totaling almost $1million.
The 50-year-old met Minichiello through his love of the Roosters and and has acted in various roles with Sports Foyer since it was registered in May 2020.
Issa pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court in January 2018 to five criminal fraud charges, which might make him ineligible to manage a company.
A sports software company fronted by rugby league great Anthony Minichiello has collapsed under a $1.3million tax debt, with the Roosters legend potentially having to pick up the bill. Minichiello is pictured with wife Terry Biviano
Minichiello told Daily Mail Australia he had only ever considered himself as an ambassador for Sports Foyer and was unaware for sometime he was actually a director.
‘I didn’t have any knowledge of the day-to-day operations,’ he said.
‘I’ve been a sportsman my whole life. What do I know about being a director?
‘I’m very disappointed that my name has been dragged into this.’
Minichiello is a hugely respected figure in rugby league whose image as a player was so spotless the NRL made him the face of the game in his last season.
Since retiring from football he has run MiniFit, which provides health and fitness programs for children, as well offering his services as a corporate speaker.
Minichiello’s wife, shoe designer and fashionista Terry Biviano, has a similarly high public profile, recently starring in the Real Housewives of Sydney.
Minichiello was one of two original directors of Sports Foyer which the Federal Court declared insolvent and ordered be wound up earlier this month, on the retired NRL star’s 44th birthday
Sports Foyer was portrayed as an app which would provide a single platform for parents to coordinate their children’s sporting commitments and needs but the product never launched.
‘Sports Foyer links parents, children and athletes to schools, sporting organisations and government bodies by integrating the aggregation of sport, data and technology in one place,’ its website still states.
Minichiello promoted the business on social media alongside Lachlan Dooner, a young footballer who played for the Roosters in the Harold Matthews Cup competition last year.
‘In my head I was always an ambassador to this business,’ Minichiello said. ‘I’ve done plenty of ambassadorships before and this was just another ambassador role for me.’
Minichiello was unsure exactly when he learnt he was a Sports Foyer director but said he was removed from that position after speaking with Issa.
‘When I’ve approached him about it he said, “That was a mistake, that’s why we’ve removed you – you’ve always been an ambassador”.’
Minichiello promoted the business on social media alongside Lachlan Dooner, a young footballer who played for the Roosters in the Harold Matthews Cup competition last year
Despite being declared insolvent, Sports Foyer is still the naming rights sponsor of the NSW Community Sports Awards to be presented at CommBank Stadium at Parramatta on June 19.
It also sponsored the government-backed NSW Sports Industry Conference held at Olympic Park on February 23 where Issa was a speaker.
Sports Foyer has been embroiled in troubles with the Australian Tax Office, which has the power to hold individual company directors personally responsible for outstanding debts.
The ATO sent Sports Foyer a written demand for $1,288,533.72 then took the company to the Federal Court, which on May 24 ordered it be wound up as insolvent and appointed liquidators.
Minichiello was aware that as a former director of Sports Foyer he might be personally held liable for at least part of the tax debt.
‘I’m getting advice from a lawyer on that,’ he said.
Sports Foyer’s former secretary John Issa is a convicted fraudster who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for scams totaling almost $1million. Issa is pictured at the NSW Sports Industry Conference on February 23
Minichiello was registered as a Foyer Sports director five years ago, with Issa as secretary, according to Australian Securities and Investments Commission records.
He ceased to be a director on January 5 last year. Issa was appointed sole director on July 31, 2023.
Issa was convicted of three counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and sentenced in February 2020, three months before Sports Foyer was established.
Those offences were committed against three financial institutions: $785,430 from NAB, $146,505 from St George Bank and $48,000 from College Capital.
Issa also admitted knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime over $210,000 transferred from sales and marketing firm Endeavour Global.
He was further convicted of publishing false or misleading information to obtain a financial advantage from Peppers Asset Finance.
Judge Mark Williams ordered Issa’s three-year sentence be served by way of intensive correction in the community, meaning he did not have to spend any time in prison.
Minichiello told Daily Mail Australia he had only ever considered himself as an ambassador for Sports Foyer and was unaware for sometime he was actually a director
Minichiello had been surprised to learn of Issa’s fraud offences.
‘I’ve known him a long time because he’s a Roosters fan but hand on heart I had no knowledge that he was ever convicted until recently,’ he said.
Issa declined to comment about any matter related to Sports Foyer, including its tax debt, his criminal convictions or whether he was entitled to manage a company.
Under the Corporations Act, a person is disqualified from managing a company if they are convicted of an offence of dishonesty punishable by imprisonment for at least three months.
A spokeswoman for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission could not confirm whether Issa’s convictions should have disqualified Issa from his Sports Foyer positions.
‘What constitutes “dishonesty” is not prescribed under the Act and we would need to better understand the nature of the charges on which he was convicted to determine whether an automatic disqualification may apply,’ she said.
‘On the surface, fraud-related charges would appear to suggest dishonesty.’
Minichiello’s wife, shoe designer and fashionista Terry Biviano, has a similarly high public profile, recently starring in the Real Housewives of Sydney. The power couple is pictured
‘The disqualification is from managing companies, not being listed as a director or secretary.
‘We would need evidence that Mr Issa was actively involved in managing companies for him to be in breach of the prohibition on managing companies whilst disqualified.’
The spokeswoman said ASIC was not generally informed when a company director was convicted of a dishonesty offence unless the action was brought by the commission.
She said Issa’s circumstances would be passed onto ASIC’s misconduct and breach reporting team.
Minichiello is perhaps the Roosters’ favourite son and upon retirement was hailed by chairman Nick Politis as one of the game’s genuine statesmen.
He held the club’s try-scoring record until July last year when winger Daniel Tupou registered his 140th four-pointer in the red, white and blue.
The winger turned fullback, who debuted for the Roosters in 2000, played 302 first grade games, hanging up his boots at the end of 2014 behind only Mitchell Aubusson on 306.
Minichiello was part of the Roosters’ 2002 premiership-winning team, captained the side in its 2013 grand final victory and was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame last year.
At the representative level, Minichiello ran out 11 times for NSW in State of Origin, played 19 times of Australia and appeared in seven games for Italy.
