Soccer

Harry Redknapp refuses to reveal names of Spurs players who tried to avoid England duty

QPR manager says he won’t name and shame players despite pressue from Gerrard and Hodgson

Harry Redknapp says he will not reveal names of players who wanted to drop out of England games. Photograph: PA
Harry Redknapp says he will not reveal names of players who wanted to drop out of England games. Photograph: PA
Mon Jun 23 2014 - 15:53

Harry Redknapp has refused Steven Gerrard's demand to name and shame the ex-Tottenham stars the Premier League boss claims skipped England duty.

Redknapp, now manager of QPR, claimed some English players asked him to pull them out of national games when he was in charge at White Hart Lane.

England captain Gerrard believes anyone who ducks England duty is ’disgusting’, and he urged Redknapp to name the players in question.

It is not something Redknapp, who was Spurs boss from 2008-2012, is about to do.

READ MORE

Redknapp told the Daily Mail: “I understand Steven’s concern but I don’t want to get into naming names because it wouldn’t be fair to the players.

“Every Premier League manager past and present knows what I’m talking about.

"Probably even Roy Hodgson. But sadly this attitude is not unusual these days.

“You’ve only got to look at how many players pull out of an international game on Tuesday and Wednesday then are running about for their clubs the next Saturday to see that this is a very real issue.”