'Adel Taarabt is about three stone overweight. I can't pick him' - Harry Redknapp

The Moroccan international was not named in the squad to face Liverpool

Sam Wallace
Tuesday 21 October 2014 05:19 EDT
Comments
Adel Taraabt in action for QPR against West Ham earlier this month
Adel Taraabt in action for QPR against West Ham earlier this month (GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Harry Redknapp has launched a scathing attack on Adel Taarabt, the Morocco international who was missing from the Queens Park Rangers squad to face Liverpool in the 3-2 defeat at Loftus Road, claiming the player was overweight.

Asked an innocuous question about whether Taarabt was injured, Redknapp, whose team conceded twice in the last seven minutes, having twice equalised, did not hide his anger about the player’s fitness.

Redknapp said: “He [Taarabt] is not injured. He’s not fit. He’s not fit to play football unfortunately. He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did. I can’t pick him. I pick people who want to try, who deserve to be at a good football club like QPR, who come in every day and want to work, train and show a good attitude. When he starts doing that, if he ever can do it, maybe he’ll get a game.”

Returning to the subject later, he seemed to suggest that there others in his QPR squad who had angered him. He said: “We've got two or three of them but 99 per cent of the other lads … I've got a fantastic group of lads here, absolutely superb. I've just been asked a question [about Taarabt]. I can't keep protecting people, who don’t want to run about and train, and are about three stone overweight. What am I supposed to keep saying? Keep getting your 60, 70 grand a week and don't train? What's the game coming to?”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in