Harry Redknapp warns against rewriting history after City verdict
On a quiet Friday afternoon, the football world held its breath as news broke that Man City had been found guilty of breaching 114 of 115 Premier League financial regulations, a verdict that prompted former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp to warn that any attempt to rewrite history would be madness for both City and Spurs.
Four‑year investigation yields damning verdict
The verdict follows a four‑year probe into the club’s accounts, spanning 2009 to 2018, which uncovered almost total non‑compliance with the league’s financial rules. A timeline for any sanction remains unclear, with the eight‑time English champions expected to lodge an appeal in due course, while observers warn the process could drag on for months.
Potential penalties loom over City
Analysts suggest a hefty points deduction is the most likely outcome, though talk of forced relegation and heavy fines persists until manager Enzo Maresca’s side learn their fate. Such penalties could reshape the Premier League landscape, affecting both title rivals and clubs fighting relegation.
Spurs’ near‑misses fuel Redknapp’s anger
Redknapp, who guided Spurs between 2008 and 2012, recalls missing Champions League qualification by a single place in 2010/11 and 2011/12, seasons when City clinched the title with Sergio Aguero’s last‑day goal. He argues that revisiting those campaigns would open a ‘can of worms’, as Tottenham fans still feel cheated by the outcomes.
Liverpool chase Premier League star Tzolakis as £40m bid looms
In a Sun column, Redknapp wrote that the guilty verdict is a ‘staggering moment for football’ and that many clubs could claim redress should City lose its appeal. He added, ‘I am one of them,’ referring to Tottenham’s perceived loss of Champions League revenue.
Club and critic spar over future
Manchester City’s chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted the club’s confidence in proving its innocence remains as strong as at the start of the investigation. Redknapp, however, said he has no interest in the Premier League retroactively stripping points or titles, describing such a move as an ‘almighty, drawn‑out mess’.
City will not return to action until 11 October, when they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool, a fixture that could be pivotal if any sanction is later imposed. Redknapp warned that any decision to alter historic league tables would affect not only top clubs but also those at the bottom, each with potential claims for lost revenue.
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