Manchester City have suspended Carlos Tevez after it was alleged he refused to appear as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat by Bayern Munich.
Tevez, 27, who said the dispute was a “misunderstanding”, is suspended until further notice for a maximum of two weeks while the club investigate.
A statement on the Man City web site said:
“Manchester City can confirm that striker Carlos Tevez has been suspended until further notice for a maximum period of two weeks. The player’s suspension is pending a full review into his alleged conduct during Tuesday evening’s 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich. The player will not be considered for selection or take part in training whilst the review is under way.”
Before City’s statement, Tevez has released his own statement as advisors try and contain the damage and fallout from this. Tevez in his statement said:
Tevez subsequently apologised to the club’s fans for the incident.
“I would like to apologise to all Manchester City fans, with whom I have always had a strong relationship, for any misunderstanding that occurred in Munich. They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club. In Munich on Tuesday I had warmed up and was ready to play. This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play. Going forward I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations.”
If I had to guess what Tevez and Kia Joorabchian were hoping here, is to force City to either sell him in January, or for City to fire him so that he could sign a big money deal elsewhere.
But Fifa vice-president Jim Boyce, however appeared to throw cold water on those possible plans saying if Tevez did refuse to play and Man City chose to sack him that:
“I believe Fifa should have the power to ban the player from taking an active part in football.”
It’s a nightmare situation for Mancini and Manchester City. The two weeks suspension gets Tevez away from the team and gives them time to figure out what to do with him. Clearly, Mancini does not want Tevez back in the dressing room, and the footballing world will be looking at Manchester City chairman Khaldoon to see how he handles this.
If City let Tevez and Joorabchian use his refusal to play as a ploy to get a move to another club then what it to stop any player pulling the same thing?
Manchester City are one of the few clubs in the world who can absorb a huge loss on the transfer fee of Tevez by sticking to their principals and it will be very interesting to see what actions they take against him.
What do you think Man City should do?
