Source: Daily_Mail
Carlos Tevez refuses to play: 3-car police escort for Man City striker
The row over Carlos Tevez's refusal to play as a substitute for Manchester City rumbled on today when fans placed an abusive pennant on the gate of his home.[LNB]Striker Tevez, who earns ?250,000-a-week, has been suspended by his club after Tuesday night's incident in the Champions League against Bayern Munich.[LNB]Today fans placed a small flag reading 'you are a disgrace Tevez' on the gate of his home in Alderley Edge, Cheshire, and one even tried to speak to him via the intercom system.[LNB] Upset: Angry fans left this small pennant on the gates of Carlos Tevez's Alderley Edge home in Cheshire to show their anger at his antics[LNB] [LNB] Reminder: The note was left at the luxury home[LNB] [LNB] Talk to me: Manchester City fan Daniel Forster, 22, makes his way back across a field after trying to speak to Tevez at his home[LNB]On his return from Germany, his club Man City and police were taking no chances with three police cars providing an escort for the striker's Hummer as it left the airport. RIGHTMINDS: Amoral and greedier than bankers, so why does no politician dare to give footballers a kicking? Asks STEPHEN GLOVER[LNB]Today police chiefs said the cost of the protection from irate fans would be charged to Manchester City after officers from seven divisions were rushed to Manchester Airport to help protect the wayward star.[LNB] No problem: Carlos Tevez gives a thumbs up to fans as he arrives back at Manchester Airport this morning[LNB] Ready to be driven home, sir? Tevez is given a three-car police escort in his Hummer from Manchester Airport[LNB] Special Greater Manchester Police 'spotters' were alerted to a number of threatening messages posted by Blues' supporters on the internet. [LNB]Hundreds of City fans had been due to land at the airport just four minutes after the team's plane. [LNB]A dozen officers from across Greater Manchester were diverted to the airport to meet Tevez as he landed at Terminal Three. [LNB]He was whisked by the police to a waiting Hummer SUV, driven by a friend, before being escorted back to his home in Alderley Edge. [LNB]Cash-strapped GMP bosses now plan to write to City asking them to 'contribute' towards the cost of the operation, which is believed to have cost thousands of pounds. [LNB]The force is already having to spread its resources more thinly as it sheds 3,000 jobs in the face of a ?134m five-year budget cut.[LNB] Off the bench... for golf: Disgraced footballer Carlos Tevez strolls though a golf club car park earlier today, seemingly oblivious to the furore his actions in Munich have caused[LNB] Refusal: Tevez and his wife were not allowed to play again today after they didn't bother to book a tee time for their round at Tytherington GC[LNB] Supt Bob Lomas said: 'We received intelligence suggesting fans travelling back from Munich were planning to stage a protest on their arrival at Manchester Airport. [LNB]'A small number of officers attended for less than an hour and assisted our airport staff in ensuring that the safety of the public as well as that of airport staff and general security was not compromised. [LNB]'It is the job of GMP to prepare for any potential threat to public order and our response was appropriate and proportional.' [LNB] Further indignity was heaped on Tevez yesterday when he set off for a round of golf with his wife but was turned away.[LNB]Strolling through the car park at Tytherington GC in Cheshire, the Manchester City striker did not seem tocare about the uproar he has caused around Britain with his behaviour.[LNB]Howeversomebody certainly cared about his lack of golf etiquette - as the Argentine and his wife were not allowed to play after not booking a tee time.[LNB] [LNB] Not a care in the world: Tevez removes his and his wife's clubs from a car[LNB] More ignominy followed as Tevez was suspended for two weeks by Manchester City, after a telephone conferenceinvolving senior staff, including chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak.[LNB]'Manchester City can confirm that striker Carlos Tevez has been suspended until further notice for a maximum period of two weeks,' said a short statement released by City this evening.[LNB]'The player's suspension is pending a full review into his alleged conduct during Tuesday evening's 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich.[LNB]'The player will not be considered for selection or take part in training whilst the review is under way.'[LNB]Lunch: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini enjoys the sun with assistant manager David Platt at Panacea in Alderley Edge today[LNB] Onlookers and pundits have reacted with fury at this latest example of selfish, egotistical behaviour from a multi-millionaire footballer[LNB]Comedian Pete Sinclair tweeted: 'What's the difference between Carlos Tevez and a tramp? ?150k a week. What's the similarity? They both refuse to get off the bench.'[LNB]Media mogul Piers Morgan added: 'I think Carlos Tevez needs an urgent chat with @themichaelowen to learn how to stay happy on the bench.'[LNB]Tevez, 27, seemed unrepentant after the match, which City lost 2-0, but today denied that he had simply not bothered to save Manchester City from defeat.[LNB]He said it had been a 'misunderstanding' - but his irate manager Roberto Mancini last night said that theforward was 'finished' at the club.[LNB]The player's attempt to dodge responsibility was mocked today as #tevezexcuses began to trend on Twitter.[LNB] Lavish lifestyle: Tevez's Audi R8 in Argentina is just one of a host of expensive cars he has funded with his footballer's wage[LNB] [LNB] Super-rich: Tevez arriving for a training session in Manchester driving another one of his collection of cars, a white Range Rover[LNB] Tevez later offered a statement denying that he had refused to appear as a substitute in yesterday's game.[LNB]But he said could not go into 'specific details' as to his reasons.[LNB]A Twitter user called The Bugle joked: 'Carlos Tevez claims refusal to play in Champions League match was "a language issue". "I thought the manager had asked me to slay a puppy".[LNB]It is not the first time Tevez has caused a scandal with his high-profile misdemeanours.[LNB]The player, who owns several expensive sports cars and lives in luxury with tennis courtsand a gym at his home, was seen last year at a hotel room with glamour model Mariana Paesani.[LNB]Jet set: Tevez with his wife and one of his children on holiday in Sardinia[LNB] Moneybags: Another one of the expensive cars Tevez owns, seen arriving at Manchester City's training ground, Carrington[LNB] [LNB] Mansion: The ?3 million house Manchester City star Tevez owns which is about a mile outside Alderley Edge in Cheshire[LNB] [LNB] Yet he pushed for a move away from Manchester City this summer, claiming he wanted to be nearer to his wife and two daughters Florencia and Katia in Argentina.[LNB]The petulant player declared he would never return to Manchester, not even on holiday. But the move never happened.[LNB]Journalist Amar Singh, from football website Goal.com, added on Twitter: 'The bench was geographically closer to my family than the pitch #tevezexcuses.'[LNB]Meanwhile, ex-footballer Gordon Taylor suggestedon the radio that Tevez should be compensated if his contract at Manchester City was terminated.[LNB] Linked; The Argentinian model Mariana Paesani (right) who was seen holding hands Tevez and the footballer kissing his wife (left)[LNB] Enraged: Roberto Mancini lays down the law to his errant Argentine[LNB] [LNB] Uncomfortable viewing: Carlos Tevez (second right) flanked on the bench by Pablo Zabaleta (right), Samir Nasri (left) and Gareth Barry[LNB] TEVEZ'S STATEMENT'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.[LNB]'They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club.[LNB]'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.[LNB]'There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood.[LNB]'Going forward I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations.'[LNB]But his comments proved unpopular, with Daily Mail sports journalist Des Kelly - former partner of Carol Vorderman - dismissing the idea and saying Taylor was 'not in tune with the public.'[LNB]Tevez grew up in a town called Apache, known as one of Argentina's most dangerous places to live thanks to its violence, drugs, poverty and high crime rate.[LNB]Yet after a series of big-money moves, football has earned him a fortune. [LNB]His statement today read: '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.[LNB]'They understand that when I am on the pitch I have always given my best for the club.[LNB]'In Munich on Tuesday I had warmed upand was ready to play.[LNB]'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.[LNB]'There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood. Going forward I am ready to play when required and to fulfil my obligations.'[LNB] [LNB] Tired of all this? City coach David Platt arrives back in Manchester[LNB]Manchester City boss Mancini said he would speak with the club's chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak in the next few days to decide what to do. The manager had intended to introduce Tevez as a substitute for the final half an hour.[LNB]But in a move that seems certainto trigger his eventual departure from the club, the 27-year-old appeared to simply say no.[LNB]'In the next days, we will speak with Khaldoon,' said Mancini. 'It is normal. He is the chairman. He decides everything.[LNB]'If I decided, yes (he would leave). He wanted to leave last year. I helped him for two years every time. He refused to play.[LNB]'I cannot accept this behaviour from him. I decide the substitutions, not Carlos.'[LNB]Tevez did not look particularly perturbed by the situation he has landed himself in when he left the stadium. But there was extra security at the airport to ensure angry fans did not encroach beyond acceptable levels.[LNB]Having agitated for a move for so long, Tevez will surely get his wish, and there was no apology for his actions immediately after the game.[LNB] 'I have been professional during all my time here,' he told Sky Sports News. 'Last season I was the top scorer and I wanted to leave for family reasons but I keep trying to do my best.'[LNB] Nevertheless, it is difficult to see how Mancini could want him in his dressing room after making such unforgiving comments.[LNB]'Do you think at Bayern Munich one player can play like this? Or Milan or Manchester United? No,' he said. 'There were 30 minutes to the end. There was time to change the game.[LNB]'Carlos didn't play at the start of the season because he didn't do a pre-season for three years. He is not ready to play."[LNB] [LNB] This would have been bad enough, in addition to being condemned to defeat by two goals in eight first-half minutes from Mario Gomez.[LNB]But Mancini also had to contend with a strop from Edin Dzeko, who took exception to being replaced by Nigel de Jong 10 minutes into the second half as City tried to stop themselves being submerged in their opponents' bombardment.[LNB]'I should be unhappy with this performance, not Edin,' said Mancini.[LNB]'But he played a poor game. If you play every three days, it is impossible that one player can always play well and that he can always stay on the pitch for 90 minutes.'[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] But there was also a stern warning for the giant Bosnian.[LNB]'This is the last time one player leaves the pitch and moves his head like this,' Mancini continued.[LNB]'I can understand a player is disappointed. I can understand inside he can be upset if he thinks he has played well. But I am the manager. I decide everything.'[LNB]
