EXCLUSIVE
A sports software company led by rugby league great Anthony Minichiello has collapsed under a $1.3 million tax debt, with the Roosters legend potentially left to foot the bill.
Minichiello was one of two original directors of Sports Foyer that the Federal Court declared bankrupt and ordered dissolved earlier this month, on the retired NRL star’s 44th birthday.
It can also be revealed that former Sports Foyer secretary John Issa is a convicted fraudster who has been sentenced to three years in prison for scams totaling almost $1 million.
The 50-year-old met Minichiello through his love of the Roosters and has played various roles at Sports Foyer since registering in May 2020.
Issa pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court in January 2018 to five counts of criminal fraud, which may make him ineligible to run a business.
A sports software company led by rugby league great Anthony Minichiello has collapsed under a $1.3 million tax debt, with the Roosters legend potentially left to foot the bill. Minichiello is pictured with his wife Terry Biviano
Minichiello told Daily Mail Australia that he had only thought of himself as an ambassador for Sports Foyer and was unaware for a while that he was actually a director.
“I had no knowledge of the day-to-day operations,” he said.
‘I’ve been an athlete all my 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 that the NRL made him the face of the sport in his final season.
Since retiring from football, he runs MiniFit, which offers health and fitness programs for children, and also offers his services as a corporate speaker.
Minichiello’s wife, shoe designer and fashionista Terry Biviano, has a similarly high public profile and recently starred in the Real Housewives of Sydney.
Minichiello was one of two original directors of Sports Foyer that the Federal Court declared bankrupt and ordered dissolved earlier this month, on the retired NRL star’s 44th birthday.
Sports Foyer was portrayed as an app that would provide parents with a single platform to coordinate their children’s sporting commitments and needs, but the product was never launched.
“Sports Foyer connects parents, children and athletes with schools, sports organizations and government agencies by integrating the convergence of sports, data and technology in one place,” the website continues.
Minichiello promoted the company on social media alongside Lachlan Dooner, a young footballer who played for the Roosters in last year’s Harold Matthews Cup competition.
“In my mind I was always an ambassador for this company,” Minichiello said. ‘I have done many ambassadorships and this was just another ambassadorial role for me.’
Minichiello did not know exactly when he learned he was director of the Sports Foyer, but said he was removed from that position after speaking with Issa.
“When I approached him about it, he said, ‘That was a mistake, that’s why we removed you; you have always been an ambassador.”
Minichiello promoted the company on social media alongside Lachlan Dooner, a young footballer who played for the Roosters in last year’s Harold Matthews Cup competition
Despite declaring bankruptcy, Sports Foyer is still the naming rights sponsor of the NSW Community Sports Awards to be presented at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta on June 19.
It also sponsored the government-backed NSW Sports Industry Conference held at the Olympic Park on February 23, where Issa was a speaker.
Sports Foyer is embroiled in trouble with the Australian Taxation 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 and then took the company to federal court, which on May 24 ordered the company declared insolvent and appointed liquidators.
Minichiello was aware that as a former director of Sports Foyer he could be held personally liable for at least part of the tax debt.
“I’m getting advice from a lawyer about this,” he said.
Former Sports Foyer secretary John Issa is a convicted fraudster who was sentenced to three years in prison for fraud totaling nearly $1 million. Issa is pictured at the NSW Sports Industry Conference on February 23
Minichiello was registered as Foyer Sports director five years ago, with Issa as secretary, according to Australian Securities and Investments Commission records.
He resigned as 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 founded.
These offenses 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 that she knowingly dealt with proceeds of crime in excess of $210,000 transferred by sales and marketing company Endeavor Global.
He was further convicted of publishing false or misleading information to obtain financial advantage from Peppers Asset Finance.
Judge Mark Williams ordered that Issa’s three-year sentence be served as intensive correction in the community, meaning he would not have to spend time in prison.
Minichiello told Daily Mail Australia that he had only thought of himself as an ambassador for Sports Foyer and was unaware for a while that he was actually a director.
Minichiello was surprised when he learned of Issa’s fraud crimes.
“I’ve known him for a long time because he’s a Roosters fan, but in my heart I didn’t know he had ever been convicted until recently,” he said.
Issa declined to comment on matters related to Sports Foyer, including his tax debt, his criminal convictions and whether he had the right to run a business.
Under the Corporations Act, a person is disqualified from running a company if convicted of an offense of dishonesty, which carries a prison sentence of 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 by law 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 allegations appear to indicate dishonesty.”
Minichiello’s wife, shoe designer and fashionista Terry Biviano, has a similarly high public profile and recently starred in the Real Housewives of Sydney. The power couple is depicted
‘The disqualification applies to managing companies, not to being listed as director or secretary.
“We need evidence that Mr. Issa was actively involved in managing companies before he would violate the ban on managing companies while disqualified.”
The spokeswoman said ASIC was generally not notified when a company director was convicted of dishonesty unless the action was brought by the commission.
She said Issa’s circumstances would be passed on to ASIC’s misconduct and breaches team.
Minichiello is perhaps the Roosters’ favorite son and was hailed by chairman Nick Politis as one of the game’s true statesmen after his retirement.
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 made his debut for the Roosters in 2000, played 302 first-year games and was trailing only Mitchell Aubusson on 306 at the end of 2014.
Minichiello was part of the Roosters’ premiership-winning team in 2002, captained the side in the 2013 grand final victory and was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame last year.
At representative level, Minichiello made 11 appearances for NSW in State of Origin, played 19 times for Australia and played in seven games for Italy.