Spurs boss Redknapp cleared of tax evasion

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has been cleared of evading taxes on payments made to his Monaco bank account from his former boss at Portsmouth Milan Mandaric.

Mandaric, who was also cleared, paid £189,000 into Redknapp's offshore account when the pair were both at Portsmouth, claiming that the money was a gesture of friendship and was in no way connected to Redknapp's role as manager.

The prosecution had claimed that £93,100 of the total was a bonus for selling striker Peter Crouch for £3.25 million profit, while the other £96,300 was a bonus for Portsmouth beating Manchester United. The payments were made between 2002 and 2007.

The paid embraced in the dock after the verdict was announced at Southwark Crown Court.

The news is a relief for Redknapp who many tip to be the next England manager, and for his club, who are locked in a battle with the two Manchester clubs for the Premiership title.