AFTER HIS TWO-week suspension from Man City yesterday, Carlos Tevez could be set to face further disciplinary action from FIFA.
The Irish Daily Star (print edition) reports that the organisation are believed to be considering preventing Tevez from playing for any club, if City can prove that the player refused to come on as a substitute during Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
Mancini claims the Argentinian refused to come on when requested to do so during the Bayern game, while the player denies the allegation, claiming the controversy arose as a result of a “misunderstanding”.
Meanwhile, Tevez’s teammate Pablo Zabaleta has backed up City’s claims, saying Tevez “didn’t want to play”.
However, Tevez claims the misunderstanding was due to the fact that, anticipating he would come on for Edin Dzeko, Tevez warmed up. Tevez was then surprised when Nigel De Jong was instead chosen to replace the Bosnian.
When Tevez was subsequently told to warm up because he was coming on, he told Mancini he had already done so. The player’s response reportedly infuriated Mancini, who told the striker to “f*** off back to Argentina”.
The pair’s relationship is believed to have been been strained for a considerable period, with Tevez reportedly believing he is the subject of a vendetta from Mancini.
Tevez’s actions have been widely criticised, with Graeme Souness branding him “a disgrace to football”.
However, Eamon Dunphy, in his column for the Star, partially defended the player, and wrote:
“I would lay the blame for the Carlos Tevez situation squarely at Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini.”
Meanwhile, Man City are believed to have launched an internal investigation into the matter, with FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce stating that the club have a strong case to cancel his contract.
43% of people in yesterday’s Score.ie poll voted that City should attempt to cancel the Argentinian’s contract, with only 6% believing they should keep him at the club.
