A custodial sentence is technically possible - but lets face it - won't happen.
He has the means to clear the tax owed and a large fine...(100% of the tax owed) plus costs.
My guess.... this is going to cost Mr Redknapp about £750k all in.
I'm not so sure he is going to escape prison after the MPs expenses scandal.
HMRC are trying to regulate football wages at the moment, as most players wages are paid to a two-tiered company to avoid income tax - then they pay themselves a much lower salary from that company. HMRC want the players to pay their share of tax on the wagers they get paid by the club.
Unfortunately all this will achieve is the same as the bankers. The players will take their business abroad where they can pay less tax and earn more.
See above. The bankers wages is a quandary. Bankers do not need to be based in the UK to do their jobs,so they can live anywhere they like where they can maximise their earning potential. A lot live in Hong Kong and Singapore for this reason.
The government really are pissing in the wind if they think they are going to generate billions in lost revenue from chasing bankers. And if they try it on with Premier League players/managers, they are eventually going to devalue the league.
I can see them making an example of Redknapp. A couple of months in a low security Cat D prison...
But all of that "contextual" information regarding bankers is irrelevant.
HMRC have no say in the sentencing process and there are clear guidelines from the Sentencing Council about what he can and cannot get.
The Judge has to look at the facts of the case and then make a decision using the guidelines. Shoving 'Arry in prison when he has the means to not only pay the tax owed but a heavy fine is simply not in the public interest and will not happen. If found guilty (and it a'int looking good) it will cost 'Arry a few quid but no more.
Spurs won't sack him, and he WILL still get the England job.