Harry Redknapp has said he hopes Manchester City are punished in 'the years to come' as it would be 'madness' to go back and begin 'messing with results' from previous seasons. The footballing world was rocked on Friday as it emerged that City had been found guilty on 114 of the 115 Premier League financial regulations they were accused of breaching. The verdict comes on the back of a comprehensive four-year investigation into the club's financial practices carried out between 2009 and 2018.
Though a possible timeline for City's punishment remains uncertain, the eight-time English champions are expected to launch an appeal in due course, and there are fears the process could drag on for some time. A hefty points deduction is said to be the 'most likely' punishment for City as it stands, but talk of forced relegation and heavy fines will continue until Enzo Maresca's side officially learn their fate.
Redknapp's Spurs connection
The potential knock-on effects of City's misconduct bring countless other clubs into the picture, one of them being Tottenham, who Redknapp managed when the two teams battled it out for Champions League qualification spots. While his side missed out on Europe's premier competition by one place in successive seasons in 2010/11 and 2011/12, the former Spurs manager feels it would be insanity to start rewriting history.
'Manchester City's guilty verdict handed down on almost all of their Premier League charges is a staggering moment for football,' Redknapp wrote in a column for The Sun. 'It is a huge task to try and wrap your head around just how far this could reach through the sport — all the people who could be impacted.'
'There are so many who will feel they have a claim to have some wrongs righted should City fail in their appeal and I am one of them. During the period City's charges cover, I was in charge of Spurs and locking horns with them for the Champions League spots over a long run. In back-to-back seasons, 2010/11 and 2011/12, we finished one place off qualification.'
'The second time around, when City won the title with that Sergio Aguero goal on the final day, we finished fourth but still missed out as Chelsea won the Champions League to take our spot. In May 2011, a 1-0 loss to Roberto Mancini's side saw them qualify for Europe's biggest competition for the first time and ended our dream of getting in there ourselves.'
Redknapp added: 'Who knows what would have happened if those at the Etihad had been playing by the rules like everyone else? No one can say for sure but Tottenham fans will not be alone in feeling that they were, in some way, cheated across those seasons.'
No interest in rewriting history
Though teams at both ends of the English top flight may have grievances and cases to make, Redknapp has 'no interest' in the Premier League returning to previous seasons to take points or titles away from City. He continued: 'Champions League football over those two years could have changed so much for Spurs but I have no interest in the Premier League going back and deducting points from those seasons or deducting titles from City.'
'This whole process has been one almighty, drawn-out mess, but we are still a long way off from it being finished. Just imagine the can of worms we would be opening if the suits were to start going back and altering league tables which have long been finalised. Where do you start and where do you draw the line? Not only are the clubs at the top impacted by titles, Champions League places and huge revenue missed out on – but those at the bottom will all have claims, too.'
If the Premier League were to begin 'messing' with previous outcomes, Redknapp believes it would do 'incredible damage' to the division's perception and standing across the globe. 'Opening up all those previous seasons would do incredible damage to a league which is the envy of the world,' the 79-year-old went on. 'City obviously need to be punished, to be made an example of, but it makes much more sense for everyone involved if those penalties cover the years to come. They should be hit hard when all is said and done but, as wronged as we all might feel by what happened, it would be madness to go back and start messing with results from the past.'
Chairman's defiant message
In the wake of Friday's stunning news, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak encouraged supporters to remain confident that the club would be able to prove its innocence. 'I have been part of this club for 18 years,' the statement began. 'I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again – how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.'
'Following Friday's media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here's what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club's innocence is just as strong as when this began.'
'There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies. I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 (also below). Every word matters and holds true.'
'While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity.'
'We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium – moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family. Thank you, as always, for your constant support.'
