Harry Redknapp scandal: Former manager hits out at reports he knew his players were illegally betting on own game
IT was claimed last night that Redknapp found out his players were illegally betting on their own game and did nothing
HARRY REDKNAPP has hit back at reports his players bet on the result of one of their matches.
It was claimed in The Telegraph last night that Redknapp found out his players were illegally betting on their own game and did nothing about it.
Speaking on BT Sports, Redknapp said today: "It’s a nonsense. If that’s the best they could get out of three hours of sitting with me and trying to stitch me up, it’s sad. The worst part is that when the bill came up, the other four scumbags got up and left me with the bill. How do I know [think he means, know what they got up to]?
"They never had a bet anyway. No-one had a bet. Impossible. Anyone who’s watching this who understands betting odds knows that a team on the top playing a team that’s relegated, it’s not a betting proposition. You can’t bet on that. It’s ridiculous."
He was filmed by undercover reporters discussing a match on which “the lads” had “all had a spread bet” on the score.
FA rules forbid players from betting on their games. Managers should report any such misconduct as soon as they find out.
Lawyers for Redknapp, 69, said he was unaware of his players betting on the game at the time.
Told by it would have been against FA rules, he said: “Oh would it? OK. But not at that time I don’t think it was, was it? They weren’t betting on the other team, they were having a bet on their own team.”
It is not known which players or club were involved. Redknapp managed a host of clubs including West Ham, Southampton and Tottenham.
There is no suggestion of any criminality on his part.