Harry Redknapp Recalls Frank Lampard's Brutal Clash with Cousin Jamie
Football legend Harry Redknapp has revealed a shocking family feud that unfolded on the pitch, detailing how his nephew Frank Lampard once left his son Jamie Redknapp requiring 24 stitches after a violent confrontation. The incident highlights the intense rivalries that can develop even between relatives in professional sports.
Family Ties Tested During Premier League Clash
While appearing on I'm A Celebrity… South Africa, Harry Redknapp recounted the dramatic story to fellow campmates including former footballer Jimmy Bullard. The clash occurred during a match between Liverpool and West Ham United, with Harry managing West Ham at the time.
"My goalkeeping coach Les Sealey, what a great character," Harry began. "He's with me on the bench at Anfield. West Ham are playing Liverpool. After about 20 minutes, my son Jamie catches Frank Lampard, who's my nephew, with a bad tackle."
According to Harry's recollection, Sealey then encouraged Lampard to retaliate against Jamie. "Frank comes off. Sealey goes, 'Frank, get back on and do him proper. He's [taken] a liberty. Make sure you hurt him'. I'm thinking, 'This is my son he's talking about'. I won't lie, I swear. I'm thinking, 'This ain't right'. I can't say nothing because I can't say, 'Oh no, you can't hurt him'."
Lampard's Vicious Retaliation
While Lampard didn't immediately retaliate during that particular match, Harry explained that revenge came later in the season. "Anyway, he didn't do him that day, Frank, but they went to Chelsea later in the season and Frank done him [elbow gesture] and [Jamie] had 24 stitches. Frank caught him with a beauty. They're cousins, you know?"
The exact timing of the incident remains somewhat disputed. Harry didn't specify which match the violent clash occurred in, though the cousins faced each other twice at Anfield in 1999 across different Premier League seasons. At that time, Lampard was an emerging star at West Ham while Jamie Redknapp was midway through his Liverpool career.
Jamie Redknapp's Version of Events
Jamie Redknapp himself has offered a slightly different account of the incident. In a 2019 interview alongside his father on Chelsea TV, Jamie claimed the events happened in the 2000s when Lampard played for Chelsea and Jamie was at Tottenham Hotspur.
"I remember playing against Frank," Jamie explained. "I'd had a little bit of a set to with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The ball was sort of between us and I thought, 'Right, there he is, I'm gonna try and get him'. Went to go for him, left a bit on him, and it ended up being Frank. So, Frank wasn't too happy with me and I remember the following year, we played at White Hart Lane and I know he didn't mean it - well, he said he didn't - he got me back. I got a nice 20 stitches on my lip... He definitely gave me one of them, you (Harry) know you that."
Contrasting Careers After Retirement
Despite the violent incident that left Jamie with significant facial injuries requiring extensive stitching, there appears to be no lingering animosity between the cousins. Both have moved on to successful post-playing careers, though in different directions.
Frank Lampard, now 47, has followed in his uncle Harry's footsteps by pursuing management. Most recently, he guided Coventry City to promotion to the Premier League, earning major EFL recognition for his achievement.
Meanwhile, Jamie Redknapp, 52, has established himself as a prominent media personality. He regularly appears as a football pundit for Sky Sports and previously served as a team captain on the popular sports entertainment show A League of Their Own.
The story serves as a reminder of how professional football rivalries can sometimes override even the closest family connections, with players willing to engage in physical confrontations regardless of personal relationships. Yet it also demonstrates how such incidents can be left in the past as careers evolve and players transition to new phases of their lives in the sport.
