Redknapp admits his players 'had a bet on the game'
A corruption scandal gripping English football courtesy of The Telegraph's undercover sting has taken its latest twist Friday, after the paper revealed admissions from former manager Harry Redknapp that his players bet on football.
Redknapp is the latest high-profile name associated with English football to become the focus of the sting. Sam Allardyce, Queens Park Rangers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Southampton assistant Eric Black and Barnsley second-in-command Tommy Wright have all been exposed by the paper's 10-month investigation.
Related: Allardyce sacked as England manager after sting revelations
Reporters posing as Far East investments interested in circumventing FIFA's ban on third-party ownership conducted an undercover interview with Redknapp on July 6, when the former Tottenham and West Ham gaffer conceded that his lot violated FA rules against betting on football matches the players are involved in.
"There is no suggestion of any criminality on Redknapp’s part, or that he knew the opposition players were betting, or that he was aware his own players had bet on the match when the game kicked off," The Telegraph's investigation states.
Despite not finding out about the alleged instances of betting until after the fact, Redknapp is culpable for not informing the FA, to which Redknapp responded, "Who gives a s--- about that?"
When pressed by the undercover reporter that it still violates FA rules, Redknapp responded, "Oh would it? Oh, 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."
The FA's ban on gambling on football was in place when Redknapp discovered his unnamed players betting on their own matches.
Related: Premier League corruption claims a lie, says agent
Redknapp, who was joined by agents Dax Price and Pino Pagliara - the latter who confessed to fabricating details uncovered during the sting - met with the undercover journos under the guise of investing in English football.
"Harry, you remember when you was at (Club X), (Player A) called me … last game of the season against (Club Y)?” Price was recorded asking Redknapp. "(Player A from Redknapp’s team) phoned me and said remortgage your house ’cause the odds were mental, they were 5/2 at the time."
For legal reasons, The Telegraph is not identifying the match in question, the teams involved, or the players concerned.
Price continued on the topic of betting against Redknapp's side, with the agent admitting that both he and several opposition players had wagered money on the match.
When contacted by The Telegraph about the betting allegations, Redknapp replied, "Unbeknownst to me. No, not a spread bet. It wasn’t a spread bet. I think they had a bet on the game, but it wasn’t, that was nothing to do with me … after the game I’d heard the rumour the lads had had a bet that day … I’m not in control of whether they go and have a bet or not."
The conversation then shifted to Far East investment in English football, and Redknapp wasn't exactly dismissive in his response, saying, "Yeah, absolutely, any way I could help, you know. Listen I put my money where my mouth is and all you know, if you, if you’re gonna buy players, now, if I’m involved in picking the players then I don’t mind having an investment and having a little bit of a, you know, not a thing obviously but you know, I’d put a few quid in and take a chance with you."
"I need something to do with my money as well, don’t I? Can’t be fairer than that can you?"