Premier League - Defoe receives death threats

Eurosport - Sun, 04 Jan 17:26:00 2009

Jermain Defoe has received threats from Portsmouth fans angered by the prospect of him leaving the club that have left him "infuriated".

2008-2009 Portsmouth Jermain Defoe - 0

The England striker looks increasingly likely to leave Fratton Park with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and even Juventus being linked with a move for him.

And Defoe has revealed he has suffered similar abuse to the threats Harry Redknapp received upon leaving Pompey and joining rivals Southampton.

"I have absolutely no idea how they got hold of my number but some of the calls have made me sick to my stomach," he told the Sunday Mirror.

"I have reported it to officials at the club, but cannot accept that it is coming from people with a balanced state of mind.

"It has infuriated and upset my family and left me wondering what on earth possesses people to do things like that."

A return to Tottenham - the club Defoe left in the last January transfer window for Portsmouth for around £7.5 million - was being negotiated, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy refused to meet Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie's current valuation of the 26-year-old.

Defoe revealed his desire to return to North London and reunite with his former boss, saying: "If Portsmouth can agree an acceptable deal with Tottenham I would like the opportunity to talk to them.

"I've enjoyed my time immensely here, but I can't deny that Harry Redknapp's departure as manager hit me hard particularly because he was the primary reason why I joined Portsmouth in the first place and said so at the time.

"I enjoy being around him because he brings the best out of me and that is all you can ask for from a manager."

Redknapp indicated that talks had come to and end on Friday following his current side's 3-1 win over Wigan in the FA Cup.

When asked about the potential price of signing Defoe, Redknapp said: "I think it's in excess of £20 million probably.

"The two clubs are miles apart in their valuation of the player so I think we'll have to move on."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 43 - 62 of 82

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  1. Sick the lot of them. Are their lives that miserable that they have nothing else to do but threaten someones life? To hell with the so called Portsmouth "fans"
    They should be put to the sword....literally.
    Good on you Defoe, it's just proof that this is not the club for you. Why play for a bunch of lowlifes like these.

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 5 Jan 9:44AM

  2. seriously i think alot of this is just people complaining because he wants to leave!
    honestly...would you complain because another player wants to leave.
    yes i'm a spurs supporter yet coming from a family where my father is from portsmouth and having to travel every weekend back and forth to portsmouth i have no objection with defoe leaving, if he wishes to leave pompey for another club then good luck to him, but people saying he's going back to spurs just because he wants to be back with harry then so be it. his choice..i think people need to deal with it.

    From zebraheaduk, on Mon 5 Jan 1:24AM

  3. I have a feeling he may be makeing it up to take some heat off him wanting to leave portsmouth and get a few more fans on his side by playing the victim i cant see how a nutty fan or fans could have got held of his number its not in the hampshire phone book is it? when caller id comes as withheld i dont pick up my mob or home phone its that simple for me and should be for him! only defoe knows the real truth behind it. DAVE QUINN ITFC

    From ABIGAIL, on Sun 4 Jan 10:23PM

  4. You people are crazy! Death threats because a guy wants to change sides? What the hell is wrong with you people? And you all talk about how bad Americans are. Pththth!

    From Defenderoftheunderground, on Sun 4 Jan 8:32PM

  5. is phil not back yet utd 3 southampton 0 bet your gutted arent you phil you little utd hater

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Jan 6:57PM

  6. £20m thts 2/3 of schevchenko and he was @#$% @#$% - excuse my language
    recieving death threats the police should sort football out once and for all

    From Seb, on Sun 4 Jan 6:27PM

  7. they should send death threat to tony adam instead of defoe coz tony adam is the one who's made the decisions not playing him regularly thus unsettling defoe himself... defoe n portsmouth fans should not be blamed for this, it's tony adam's fault implemented formation 4-5-1...

    From Bali Tenno, on Sun 4 Jan 6:22PM

  8. Whilst i agree that footballers are a greedy bunch in the main, i would have to say Defoes situation is a bit more complicated than that. He had some good years with Redknapp at West Ham and it was only really a lack of opportunity at Spurs that made him want to leave in the first place. Spurs fans, i'm sure, will be happy to have him back. They would probably have Robbie Keane back if Liverpool dumped him, and they welcomed back Sheringham when Man U had finished with him.

    From facup71, on Sun 4 Jan 5:51PM

  9. what sad comments that are placed on here im a pompey fan, and im certainly not scum, inbreed, or hated by other footie fans, i have friends that support other football teams and living and working in spain we all get together on a saturday at one of the bars to watch the live games, the banters great, its what grown ups tend to behave like, so pherhaps to the few that can i can only assume havent yet grown up, GET A GRIP stop being so rude

    From Yvonne, on Sun 4 Jan 5:34PM

  10. phil your a @#$% hope that one got through go and play on a dating website you ugly turd

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Jan 5:28PM

  11. who do you support phil let us know so i can laugh sorry if there is any spelling mistakes but if you want to debate football be my guest if you want to correct spelling mistakes go on countdown you halfwit and get a life do let us know your team bet you dont are you a utd hater jealous of our glory

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Jan 5:26PM

  12. who do you support phil let us know so i can laugh sorry if there is any spelling mistakes but if you want to debate football be my guest if you want to correct spelling mistakes go on countdown you halfwit and get a life do let us know your team bet you dont are you a utd hater jealous of our glory

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Jan 5:26PM

  13. phil your a @#$% hope that one got through

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Jan 5:19PM

  14. phil your a @#$% hope that one got through

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Jan 5:19PM

  15. phil your a @#$% hope that one got through

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 4 Jan 5:19PM

  16. He`s a good player but, £20m. That is way to much for a less than average striker.

    From Bobby Robson A Legend, on Sun 4 Jan 4:57PM

  17. pompey_diver LAUGH OUT LOUD?????????? I AM. WE HAVE YOUR MANAGER AND ABOUT TO RAID WHATS RIGHTFULLY OURS....WE'LL JUST LEAVE YOU WITH THE DEBT AND A SORE HEAD.................HA HA HA HA HA ...........JUNKIE SOUTHCOAST SC"M.......

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Sun 4 Jan 4:45PM

  18. why do people find the need to come on here and bad mouth portsmouth. a handfull of socalled pompey fans have been silly but you shout your mouths off and run us true pompey fans down. and another thing! dont you remember the sol abuse shame on you too, you hypocrites get a life. PLAY UP POMPEY!

    From Bob, on Sun 4 Jan 4:40PM

  19. shut it scu@@er.lol

    From pompey_diver, on Sun 4 Jan 4:23PM

  20. I HOPE SAINTS BEAT MAN U TODAY AND WE PLAY THEM. NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE AN EASY TARGET, BUT TO SHOW PORTSCUM WHAT FOOTBALL IS ALL ABOUT...........DEATH THREATS, FROM INBRED @#$% JUNKIE SC"M................. NO WONDER YOU GUTLESS FILTH ARE THE MOST HATED IN THE WHIOLE LEAGUE...........

    From ROCK AND ROLL, on Sun 4 Jan 4:21PM
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