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Redknapp wants end to abusive chants
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has revealed he is sickened by abuse from the terraces and believes the situation is getting worse.
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Spurs take on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday in the North London derby, a fixture which has seen more than its share of controversy on the terraces with chants aimed at Arsene Wenger, Emmanuel Adebayor and Sol Campbell to name just a few.
Earlier this week the two clubs issued a joint statement reminding both sets of supporters that "breaches of ground regulations - including anti-social behaviour - will not be tolerated".
Adebayor has been targetted by both sets of fans during his time in the Premier League. In October, Arsenal fans turned on their former striker as a section of the support directed chants about the deadly gun attack on Togo players in Angola.
"Unbelievable. It's crazy,'' the Spurs boss said of that abuse. "No-one deserves that. It's absolute filth. Having seen boys get killed like that, get shot, and then for people to start singing about it ...
"It's the worst thing about the modern game. I hate it. It gets worse. It's scary what some people chant. People sing songs about a player's mother dying.
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I was watching the West Brom - Wolves game the other day. What they were singing about a player's wife, it made me ill. I don't understand it. It's nonsense, filth. We have all grown up loving the game but they can't be football lovers.
"People get in a crowd and they change. If you meet them individually they are as good as gold, but get them in a crowd and off they go, they all follow and chant any filth that comes into their heads.''
Wenger has urged Arsenal fans to show respect towards Adebayor.
Wenger added to the calls for calm. He said: "We want to respect everybody. Respect Tottenham players on Sunday and we want our players and supporters to be respected as well.
"I bought Adebayor when nobody knew him in this country and he became a big player here so I am not surprised that he is doing well. He went to Manchester City, then to Real Madrid, then back to Manchester City and then to Tottenham, so he has only made big clubs and I am not surprised because he is a good player.''
Redknapp gave his backing to Wenger despite the club's troubles this season.
He said: "They can't do any better than what they've got. They can't replace Wenger. I couldn't criticise him in any way, shape or form after the job he has done there, which has been amazing. They have just had a more difficult year.
"Look at his record. He has brought them Champions League football for how many years? Fifteen is it? Everyone has taken stick, even Sir Alex Ferguson, but Wenger is top class. Having said that, let's hope we can make it a miserable weekend for them!''
Rafael van der Vaart, Adebayor, Luka Modric and Benoit Assou-Ekotto all missed last weekend's game but are expected to play on Sunday, leaving Redknapp with an almost full-strength squad to choose from.
