FORMER PORTSMOUTH FC owner Milan Mandaric says he is ‘insulted’ by allegations that he paid bungs to Harry Redknapp.
The pair are accused of concealing two transfer payments worth $295,000 in a Monaco bank account to avoid paying taxes. Both men deny the charges.
Mandaric, now Sheffield Wednesday owner, told Southwark Crown Court in London today: “It is a very sad situation that I have to answer that because in business, running public companies with thousands of shareholders, being a major investor in US banks where you have to go through rigorous, fit-and-proper person test, being part of investment fund over there, I started in a hard way and made enough money to support my love of football.
“Never, ever in my mind was coming the idea that I could get rich evading money. I did not even know what the word meant. I did not cheat anyone,” he said.
Milan Mandaric, arrives at Southwark Crown Court. Anthony Devlin/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Redknapp “has a tendency to moan”, Mandaric said, saying they argued over whether the manager was owed a 5% or 10% bonus on the Crouch sale.
“He has a tendency to moan, to be unhappy, to find something,” Mandaric said.
The court was adjourned until tomorrow when Mandaric will continue giving evidence.