TOTTENHAM MANAGER HARRY Redknapp is focused on other issues today.
He’s at a south London court on the first day of the trial in which he’s accused of tax evasion, along with former Portsmouth FC owner Milan Mandaric.
Yesterday, however, Redknapp was concerned with on-pitch affairs. His side battled back from two goals down against fellow title hopefuls Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Mario Balotelli ultimately sealed a home win with a late ,late penalty, putting Roberto Mancini’s side in the driving seat for a first Premier League crown.
The Spurs boss insisted afterwards that the Italian striker should not have been on the pitch following a stamp on Scott Parker’s head. Balotelli had already been booked within 13 minutes of his introduction as a second‑half substitute for a foul on Benoît Assou-Ekotto.
Here’s the Parker incident:
YouTube credit: Ste93NUFCTV
“I’m surprised he [the linesman] hasn’t seen it,” Redknapp told the media afterwards (see the Guardian).
“The first [stamp] could be an accident, but the second one? He’s backheeled him straight in the head. I don’t like talking about people kicking players in the head but when you see that, it’s wrong. Whether he gets sent off or whatever, it’s wrong and I don’t like seeing people react like that to a challenge. Scott made a good block.”
Balotelli could now be handed a four-game ban if referee Howard Webb confirms he missed the incident and FA chief subsequently find him guilty of violent conduct.
