Portsmouth manager launches court action against police

LONDON (AFP) — Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp launched a court action Wednesday against the City of London Police for arresting him as part of a football corruption probe.

Redknapp and his wife Sandra are seeking a judicial review of the police's decision to arrest and bail the Pompey boss and issue a warrant to raid the couple's home in Poole on the southern English coast.

Redknapp was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting in November 2007.

The couple lodged the action at at London's High Court.

A court spokesman confirmed the action had been received and said the first hearing would be on May 2 - just over two weeks before Portsmouth face Cardiff in the FA Cup final at London's Wembley Stadium on May 17.

The City of London Police declined to comment.

Portsmouth, sixth in the English Premier League, have not won a major trophy since being crowned champions of England in 1949/1950.

They last won the FA Cup in 1939.

Following Redknapp's arrest, he called a press conference to say he was furious about his and his family's treatment and felt he had been targeted to raise the investigation's profile at a time when he was being touted as a possible future manager of England in succession to Steve McClaren.

Detectives swooped in a pre-dawn raid on his house while he returned from watching a match in Germany.

He said his "petrified" wife left him "hysterical" telephone messages after detectives and tabloid newspaper photographers arrived at his home.

Nine people have been bailed in connection with the inquiry. They include Birmingham City managing director Karren Brady and co-owner David Sullivan, who were arrested, questioned and bailed last week.