Redknapp slams Tevez conduct

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has condemned Carlos Tevez’s refusal to come on as a substitute in Manchester City’s defeat to Bayern Munich.

Tevez’s future at Etihad Stadium has been cast in serious doubt after he allegedly rebuffed City manager Roberto Mancini when asked to play in the 2-0 Champions League reverse at Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

The Argentine has since apologised for the incident, calling it a ‘misunderstanding’ and denying that he declined to come on in the second half.

But Redknapp refused to heed Tevez’s explanation, labelling the striker’s actions as ‘beyond belief’.

“It’s just unbelievable really, it was unbelievable,” Redknapp said. “I felt sorry for Roberto Mancini to be put in that situation, it’s not fair.”

“It wasn’t right, it wasn’t right for Man City, it wasn’t right for football. I can’t believe it. It can’t happen, it shouldn’t happen.”

“I mean, to see a player do that, to refuse to come on and play in a Champions League game, it’s beyond belief.”

“He’s a great player, there is no doubt about that, but I can’t condone what happened yesterday it was unbelievable.”

“It’s just not right, what message does that send out to young players? What does it send out to kids?”

Redknapp was also forced to deal with an unsettled player in the recent transfer window when Luka Modric voiced his wish to leave White Hart Lane.

But the Spurs boss played down similarities with the Tevez saga, saying that Croatian international Modric would have never refused to play had he been told to do so.

“It was different altogether,” Redknapp said. “Luka just said he didn’t feel right. If I had said to him ‘you’re playing’, he would have played.”

“But to be sitting on the bench and not coming on and not play is different. His (Tevez’s) team needed him, his teammates needed him, you’ve got to come on.”