Jamie Redknapp has poked fun at 'split allegiance' football fans in his latest amusing mockumentary ahead of the Old Firm derby this weekend.
The Sky Sports pundit enjoyed an impressive Premier League career with spells at Bournemouth, Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton, as well as making 17 appearances for England. The former midfielder has remained staunchly loyal to his old clubs since hanging up his boots to appear on our TV screens, and his latest work has seen him taking a tongue-in-cheek pop at fans who claim to support more than one football team.
Joining forces with Paddy Power for the newest episode of 'Jamie Redknapp Investigates', the 48-year-old tracks down some football 'fans' whose hearts are in more than one camp. First off he meets up with hipster brothers Neil and Tony Simmons who run the fictional Market Monkey Pub in Warrington.
Both claim they started out as Manchester United supporters, even naming their family dog after Red Devils legend Gary Pallister, but they've each since adopted a second team.
“I once saw this fella wearing their shirt at a gig and I just fell in love with the club and the whole ethos around it” said Neil as he explains why he now supports Germany second division side St. Pauli. “We do some amazing stuff in the community."
“We?” questioned Redknapp. “I didn’t see their result at the weekend, how’d they get on?” But the conversation quickly drifted into an awkward silence when Neil couldn’t answer. Redknapp then began to question the other brother, Tom, as to why he now has a second team. “To be honest, I just got sick of United being rubbish” he explained “so I split my allegiance with PSG.”
Yet while the likelihood of Man Utd playing PSG or St Pauli is a rare occurrence, surely the rivalry between Scotland's two Old Firm giants would be a stretch too far for a double agent supporter?
“People do really struggle to get their heads around it” admitted Gus Garvey, who claims to follow both Rangers and Celtic in the ad. “My loyalties lie with both the champions of Scotland because we are the people. And, also with Celtic, because Rangers are f****** dead. First British team to win the European Cup. But they don’t have 55 titles though, do they? Who does? Rangers. That’s who!”
The amusing skit then takes a turn, as Garvey reveals: “When Rangers won the title last season, I went into town to celebrate. I got into a huge fight with myself on Sauchiehall Street.” CCTV footage from the incident shows Gus throwing his own head into a lamppost before knocking himself to the floor. “Who won?” a bemused Redknapp quipped.
What are your thoughts on supporting more than one team? Let us know in the comments below.
Redknapp's final stop on his investigation takes him to Wales and to the home of Andrew Timms. Though no sooner does Andrew explain that he is a follower of Cardiff City and Spanish club Villarreal, does the scene cut to footage of the fan being hauled off by policemen as Redknapp declares: "Serves him right."
“Football is all about the fans and those fans should be able to express their loyalty any way they want," he adds. "But should it extend to having a second team? Maybe, maybe not.”
Redknapp then bumps into a fan wearing a half Man Utd, half Sporting Lisbon football shirt, in homage to both Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes. “I think maybe not,” he concludes.
*Episode Five of Jamie Redknapp can be found on Paddy Power's official Twitter, YouTube , and Instagram accounts.
