Premier League - Redknapp cleared in tax evasion trial
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has been found not guilty of tax evasion.
Redknapp and former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric were both found not guilty on two charges of tax evasion at Southwark Crown Court and hugged each other in the dock when the verdicts were announced.
Redknapp's hopes of leading the England team received a major boost as he walked free from court. Jurors accepted Redknapp's angry denials that he avoided tax on any payments over £189,000 found in a Monaco account.
As he thanked his legal team, his family, Tottenham and the club's supporters, Redknapp said: "It really has been a nightmare, I have to be honest. It has been five years and this is a case that should never have come to court, it's unbelievable really ... now we can go home and get on with it.
"I have to thank the fans, especially, the fans of Tottenham. The other night, the Wigan game, was the most moving I've ever felt for me personally to have them singing my name throughout the game.".
Tottenham said in a club statement: "Everyone at the club is delighted for Harry and his family. This has been hanging over him for four years and the last two weeks have been particularly difficult. We are pleased to see this resolved and we all look forward to the rest of the season."
Redknapp's acquittal alongside co-defendant Mandaric blows the final whistle on a five-year £8 million police investigation which failed to yield a single conviction. Mandaric and former Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie were also cleared of £600,000 tax dodge claims at a previous trial, it can be reported for the first time.
Redknapp was at times moved to the verge of tears as the Crown alleged that he told a pack of lies in an attempt to get off the hook.
But jurors accepted Redknapp and Mandaric's evidence that the Monaco account in the name of Redknapp's dog, Rosie, was nothing to do with footballing matters.
Sheffield Wednesday chairman Mandaric said in a statement: "I'm delighted I have been cleared of these totally unfounded allegations of tax evasion. It is clear they should have never have been brought to court.
"I never doubted the truth would prevail nor the fact that the British justice system would come to the right conclusion. I came to Britain 12 years ago because of my love of football and have since saved three much-loved football clubs, which were on the brink of extinction.
"As a result I have saved thousands of jobs and paid tens of millions of pounds into the public purse through tax. To suggest I would cheat the tax man is highly offensive to me, my family, my associates and friends. I'm happy that my good name and reputation have been upheld.
"And I wish to express my gratitude to my many football fans, friends and family for all their support. They have been a great source of strength to me."
The two-week trial at London's Southwark Crown Court threatened to derail Redknapp's progress at the pinnacle of his 30-year managerial career.
Having led Spurs through their most successful period in the Premier League era, the Londoner was tipped as the outstanding favourite to replace Fabio Capello as England manager this summer. With his name cleared in the courts, nothing would now appear to stand in the way for the Football Association to hire him.
The verdicts mark an unsuccessful end to an exhaustive inquiry into football corruption by tax authorities and City of London Police. Police began pursuing Redknapp in 2006 after he admitted having the Monaco account as he was questioned by the Quest inquiry into Premier League bungs.
The transactions took place as the pair squabbled over a transfer bonus Redknapp was due for the £3 million profit the club made on the sale of England striker Peter Crouch. But the jury accepted Redknapp's claim that he knew he was "morally but not legally" entitled to the cash.
A recorded telephone conversation between News of the World reporter Rob Beasley and the pair in 2009 was a pivotal element in the Crown's case. Redknapp telling Mr Beasley it was money for transfer bonuses was "the most compelling and important evidence", prosecutor John Black QC said.
But defence barrister John Kelsey-Fry QC said the Sunday tabloid's evidence was "primarily despicable". "I do not shrink from suggesting to you it is repugnant to all our basic instincts of fairness in the criminal justice process," he said.
"We've no regrets about pursuing this case because it was vitally important that the facts were put before the jury for their consideration," said Chris Martin, assistant director of Criminal Investigations at HM Revenue and Customs.
"We accept the verdict of the jury but I would like to remind those who are evading tax by using off-shore tax havens that it always makes sense to come forward and talk to us before we come to talk to you."
Comment 803 - 822 of 822
hi Harry, my Name is Craig Whyte, I have a wee problem of £45.000.000 with HMRC, could you please give me your Lawyers Tel.Number.
So after reading comments on this article and the one about Fabio's press release........how long before the powers that be realise that the majority of people seem to think that Harry got off lightly becuse of "underhand justice system" etc etc and that Fabio did the honourable thing in stepping down. I think we can all agree that the FA are a complete bunch of corrupt idiots in the pay of god knows who and Redknapp would be happy to join them. They probaly paid for his court case!!!! The whole sorry saga is a disgrace and saddens me that English football is at this gutter level..
Another travesty of justice.
Must have had the same defence team as OJ Simpson.
you all take us for an ole mug capello quit,racist captain,dodgy tax evader and the
dog call rosie 45,in fact i just pass him at da cash point in the year of the queen
jubilee the football is having their own football jubilee lot of kuruption,racist all
because you want an english manager,you need someone who can do the job not a yes man
or some control freek ranting on the line
This was a chance for the I R & the government to set an example in dealing with serial tax avoidance, but as usual other things come into play, such as how the media perceive him as being such a great bloke & how he is already set for a certain job. No doubt there were a lot of funny handshakes going on behind the scenes.
Good Ole Engerland....The Boss..Top Rate Tax Evader...The Captain a Racist...you couldnt make it up...??
Shame on the system that cossets the rich. If you stole a tin of beans you would be done for it, that chief got off for a string of thieving offences. He was abused as a child. We were all abused as children and now the system still abuses the poor.
Just seen harrys dog using a cashpoint in town
How much tax payer's money has this lot cost? Probably enough to rn a care home or two for a year. You get a £100.00 pound fine for not doing the tax man's job for him, in his time frame, but you can kick a ball about and get away with blue murder.
No wonder today's kids don't want proper jobs and just want to be Z list celebrities.
one law for the rich one law for the poor, just shows if you have got money you can get away with anything
so who's lying here?
The police and HMRC? Harry? The Juries?
Why did it take them almost 5 years and so many millions of £s to now reach a verdict of "free"?
Whoever failed to do proper investigation should be made to pay back all the millions from the tax-payers' pockets that was wasted!
This is another abomination in the justice system!
David Cameron where hath thou? Please chime in David, as you have been doing a fantastic job so far, in chasing these crooks up....
Wish I was Harry - got £385 fine from VAT office for being 3 days late with VAT after sister in law died and I was busy helping brother and his children, guess my names wrong and I'm in the wrong job. Should have sent return in with my sons hamsters name! Maybe I'd get a promotion. Our kids have got some great role models in footy.
The Inland Revenue are adding a new page to the self assessment tax return form -
How many pet's have you got!
What's their name's!
What year were they born!
Be specific about your dog's name!!
Good job, Harry's dog wasn't called Blackie, he'd be up on another charge like JT!!
one law for the common man and another for the super rich....a travesty
WELL SAID DANIEL....The truth of it is he was indeed guilty.
Hands up how many people have offshore accounts for their pet budgie ...Joey ???
The FA today confirmed Mr Rednapp as England manager......who shall we make your wage cheque out to sir ?
Just make it out to ......Joey the budgie !
What a mockery of the British justice system...members of the jury must have been cockney or football fans.
How can you hold an offshore account in your dogs name and NOT be avoiding tax.That very fact belies any innocence.
If there was nothing dodgy then that account would be in his own name wouldn't it...I'm afraid this plays into the hands of politicians who want to remove the common man from the Justice system.
He's defence was laughable...why would he avoid tens of thousands in tax when he is already paying hundreds of thousands ?....well Mr Rednapp....because you had no bloody choice and has you have proved given the opportunity you open an account for your dog
He only got off because of his status and people are afraid/starstruck. It's blatantly obvious that the average person struggles to see 'celebrities' as real people and therefore give them preferential treatment. The facts of the case were that he was guilty and this is supported by the fact that Inland Revenue were bringing the case to court. How the jurors saw otherwise is beyond me, but no doubt they chose 12 men and women with average IQs and general intelligence.
Now Redknapp's going to become England manager and add to the stench of corruption and bad behaviour within the organisation. A bad day for justice and England.
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