London: Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp said his players bet on the result of one of their matches, according to the newspaper investigation that has seen England coach Sam Allardyce lose his job.
The Daily Telegraph’s undercover reporters filmed Redknapp discussing the game although the 69-year-old later told the paper he did not think it was against FA rules at the time.
However, FA rules ban players from betting on matches they are involved in and managers are expected to report any misconduct.
The Telegraph said lawyers for Redknapp said he was not aware of players betting on the match at the time.
The newspaper did not say which club was involved.
Former West Ham United, Portsmouth, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers manager Redknapp met reporters posing as representatives of a Far East firm that wanted to break into English football’s billion-pound transfer market.
Redknapp has denied any wrongdoing.
he Daily Telegraph said Redknapp met with undercover reporters, who were representing a fictitious Far East firm, and football agents Dax Price and Pino Pagliara at a London private members’ club.
When contacted later by the newspaper, and told that betting by players was against the rules, Redknapp reportedly replied: “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.”
Asked about his remarks about the players gambling on the game, the Telegraph claims he told the newspaper: “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.”
When asked about third-part player ownership, which is forbidden by both the FA and FIFA, he was filmed saying he would dip into his own pockets to fund deals.
‘Yeah, absolutely, any way I could help, you know,’ he said in the Mail
‘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?’
The newspaper’s revelations have so far led to Allardyce and Barnsley assistant manager Tommy Wright losing their jobs.
Allardyce was sacked on Tuesday after the FA said he had behaved inappropriately following secret filming that showed him offering advice to businessmen on how to circumvent rules on player transfers.
