LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp was cleared by a London court on Wednesday of tax evasion after a long investigation into financial corruption in British soccer.
Redknapp, tipped to be the next England manager, was charged with cheating the public revenue in relation to payments totalling $295,000 (185,792 pounds) made to his bank account in Monaco during his time as Portsmouth manager.
Redknapp embraced co-defendant Milan Mandaric and gasps went out from where their family was sitting as both were cleared after a trial lasting more than two weeks.
Redknapp is expected to make a statement outside Southwark Crown Court in front of dozens of photographers and cameramen that have been waiting in the cold weather since the early hours of the morning.
Mandaric, former chairman of Portsmouth, made the payments to an account named after Redknapp's dog. The two men said the payments were for investments outside of soccer and not bonuses on which tax was due.
Redknapp was manager of Portsmouth from 2002 to 2004 and then 2005 to 2008 before joining Tottenham. Tottenham are currently third in the Premier League.
Mandaric remains involved with soccer as chairman of league one (third division) Sheffield Wednesday.
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