Redknapp backing for ‘upset’ Campbell

SOL CAMPBELL has been backed by boss Harry Redknapp and his Portsmouth teammates to lead Portsmouth into the second round group stage of the UEFA Cup tonight (9.35pm) — and show his detractors that bad mouthing cannot damage his enduring ability.

The 34-year-old former England veteran was subjected to major abuse from thousands of Tottenham fans who still cannot forgive him for joining arch-rivals Arsenal seven years ago.

So vitriolic and obscene was the verbal treatment he received throughout Portsmouth’s 2-0 win over Spurs at Fratton Park on Sunday that the FA have launched an investigation after police admitted they could not handle the mass verbal attack by making arrests for fear of sparking a riot.

Manager Redknapp described the abuse as “filthy” and added, ahead of tonight’s first round, second leg clash with Portugal’s Vitoria Guimaraes — who Pompey lead 2-0 after the first leg: “This kind of thing has no place in football, no place in life.

“Someone has got to do something about it, somebody has got to make a stand and if Sol wants to do that we are right behind him.

“Of course he is upset about it and we are all disappointed about what’s happened to him but he’ll be fine.”