Harry Redknapp backs out of controversial substitution
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was forced to scrap a planned substitution in Friday night’s FA Cup win against Wigan amid fears the swap would disrupt his side’s momentum. Hossam Ghaly has not played for the club since throwing a tantrum (and his shirt) when substituted by Martin Jol in a match against Blackburn in May 2007.
s Sol Campbell will testify, the White Hart Lane faithful are not the most forgiving folks, and last night they showed Ghaly that he was still in their bad books. Ordered by Redknapp to strip off his tracksuit for a 10-minute comeback appearance, Ghaly faced a barrage of boos as he waited to join the action. This prompted Redknapp to tell the Egyptian to put his tracksuit back on and return to the bench.
Redknapp said: “That’s not what you need at 2-0 up and with everyone buoyant. I didn’t want him running on with everyone booing and shouting abuse. I didn’t want the atmosphere to change. I wanted the people to support us, but obviously they’d got the hump.
“I asked Hossam what he had done, I didn’t really know what it was all about. I spoke to him afterwards and he said, ‘I threw my shirt down.’ I felt sorry for the boy… It’s going to be difficult for the boy to play here again. But I’d like the crowd to give him a second chance. Everyone makes mistakes and we’re so short at the moment that we need him.”
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