Redknapp Says 'joke' About Tuchel 'badly Backfired'

Former Premier League head Harry Redknapp says calling England leader Thomas Tuchel "a German spy" was a "joke" that "badly backfired".

Redknapp made nan comment astir nan German head erstwhile speaking astatine a kindness arena past period and besides appeared to make a Nazi salute.

Appearing connected Saudi Arabia's state-owned Al Arabiya News successful an question and reply broadcast connected Wednesday, Redknapp was discussing England having a overseas head successful Tuchel erstwhile nan presenter said: "A German spy arsenic you said.."

The ex-Portsmouth, Tottenham and West Ham head replied: "No, don't spell there. Oh my god, it was a joke, you know, that severely backfired. But it was only a joke."

Former Chelsea head Tuchel officially started his England domiciled successful January and led them to World Cup qualifying wins complete Albania and Latvia successful his first 2 games successful charge.

Redknapp, 78, was speaking successful beforehand of an assemblage astatine an arena successful London earlier those matches and was asked for his thoughts connected nan German.

"I'll beryllium honorable pinch you, I deliberation he's a German spy. I'm telling you," Redknapp is seen saying in a video clip obtained by nan Guardian., external

"Seriously, he's been sent complete to [expletive] america up. He has. I'm telling ya, he's for illustration Lord Haw Haw successful nan warfare – 'We person your champion soldiers captured' and each that."

William Joyce, known arsenic Lord Haw-Haw, broadcast Nazi propaganda to nan UK during World War Two.

Redknapp besides imagined an instruction fixed to Tuchel to "go complete and ruin that team".

And he appeared to make a Nazi salute motion arsenic he made nan comments to nan audience, who were laughing.