Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has weighed in on the recent verdict surrounding Manchester City. An independent commission's ruling declared the club guilty on 114 of 115 charges of financial breaches that occurred from 2009 to 2018.
Redknapp was in charge of Spurs during a time when they were embroiled in a fierce competition with the Citizens for a Champions League spot. In both the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons, Spurs finished agonisingly close, mere points away from qualifying for Europe's elite competition.
In his column for The Sun, the Englishman described the ruling as a shocking moment for world football, acknowledging that fans of the North London club have every right to feel cheated.
“The ruling that Manchester City is guilty on almost all counts is a stunning moment for football. It’s hard to comprehend just how far the repercussions of this case could spread and how many people it will affect.
There will be plenty who feel justified in demanding a remedy for this injustice should City’s appeal fail, and I count myself among them. During the time I managed Tottenham, we were pushing for those Champions League spots, finishing just a step away in both the 2010/11 and 2011/12 seasons. In the latter, when they clinched the title with Sergio Aguero's last-minute goal, we finished fourth yet missed out on the tournament because Chelsea won the Champions League and claimed our spot.
Our 1-0 defeat to Roberto Mancini's side in May 2011 meant they qualified for the Champions League for the first time, and it shattered our dream. Who knows how history might have changed had City adhered to the rules like everyone else? No one can say for certain, but Tottenham fans are not alone in feeling robbed.”
However, Redknapp strongly opposes the idea of retroactively altering league tables or stripping Manchester City of their previously won trophies:
“The Champions League in those years could have changed the trajectory of Tottenham significantly. But I have no desire to see the Premier League hierarchy go back in time, dock them points for those seasons or take away titles they have earned.
Just imagine the Pandora's box we would open if officials started rewriting confirmed league tables. Where would we draw the line? It’s not just the clubs at the top, missing out on medals, European qualification and huge revenues, but also teams at the bottom who were relegated and could now lay claim to unfairness.
Revisiting all those seasons would cause irreparable harm to a league that is admired worldwide. Manchester City must face serious repercussions and serve as an example. However, it makes far more sense and would be safer for football if these sanctions impacted upcoming seasons. They need to be hit hard, but as frustrating as it is, going back and rewriting history would be absolute madness.”
