Tax claims ‘sad’, says Mandaric

The wealthy football chairman accused of sending bungs to manager Harry Redknapp said he is insulted by the allegations.

Milan Mandaric said he was worth more than £100m (€120m) at the time and paid £55m in taxes over six years.

He said accusations of tax dodging are “sad, unfair and an insult” to his family, his associates and “even some of those supporters”.

“Never, ever in my mind was coming the idea that I could get rich evading money,” Mandaric told Southwark Crown Court in London. “I did not even know what the word meant. I did not cheat anyone.”

He said “not in a million years” would he have paid £189,000 into the account to avoid taxes.

“I paid £55m income taxes for six years,” he added.