Tevez may sue City boss Mancini

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AppId is over the quota
By Richard Conway
BBC Sport Tevez has not played for City since they beat Birmingham on 21 September Carlos Tevez may sue Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini for defamation of character, according to sources in the Argentine striker's camp.

On Tuesday, City fined Tevez four weeks wages - about £1m - for what they say were five separate breaches of contract in a game against Bayern Munich.

A club investigation found Tevez guilty of refusing to play in the match.

But Tevez has been advised that Mancini's post-match comments on the matter could amount to defamation.

The player, who has 14 days to appeal to the club board against the charge, continues to assert that at no time during the Champions League match in Germany in September was he told he was to be brought on to play and he is understood to be considering his legal options.

Continue reading the main story 12 December 2010 - Tevez says he is going to leave Man City 20 December 2010 - Withdraws transfer request and commits future to club16 May 2011 - Says he will only stay at club if solution found to "family issues" 8 June 2011 - Tevez says he will never return to "small and wet" Manchester after the end of his contract4 July 2011 - Tevez confirms he is going to leave City 12 July 2011 - City turn down £35m bid from Brazilian club Corinthians for Tevez27 September 2011 - City boss Roberto Mancini says that he wants Tevez "out of the club" after the striker allegedly refuses to play against Bayern Munich28 September 2011 - City suspend Tevez for two weeks12 October 2011 - City announce that Tevez will face disciplinary proceedings25 October 2001 - Tevez found guilty of five breaches of contract and fined four weeks' wages

Should any internal appeal by Tevez fail then the striker has the option of taking the matter to a Premier League tribunal.

Tevez and his advisors believe that none of the five reasons given by Manchester City for upholding the charge of misconduct is correct, and that Mancini's assertion immediately after the game that he refused to play could therefore equate to defamation.

The breaches of contract cited by City, include "an obligation to participate in any matches in which the player is selected" and a failure to follow the instructions of his manager

City have decided not to extend the two-week suspension already served by Tevez.

The player, who has not played since the Carling Cup match against Birmingham on 21 September, is therefore theoretically available for selection for City's Carling Cup fourth-round tie at Wolves on Wednesday.

But a departure from Eastlands in January seems inevitable, with Tevez having trained alone since returning to the club after suspension.

Mancini is also unlikely to wish to unsettle a squad that is now five points clear at the top of the Premier League after thrashing city rivals Manchester United 6-1 on Sunday.

Tevez trains alone at Manchester City following suspension

Tevez was signed by then City manager Mark Hughes in the summer of 2009 and has since scored 53 goals in 91 appearances.

In May, he captained the club to FA Cup triumph, with a 1-0 victory over Stoke in the final at Wembley, City's first major trophy in 35 years.

However, he has also twice asked for a transfer away from Eastlands and looked set to get his wish before a proposed £40m move to Brazilian side Corinthians fell through.

He has made five appearances for City this season, but only two starts, and is yet to score.

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Tevez to face misconduct hearing

AppId is over the quota
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Tevez has scored 53 goals in 91 games for Manchester City Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is to face a disciplinary hearing after allegedly refusing to play in the defeat by Bayern Munich.

City launched an inquiry and suspended the 27-year-old after he failed to come off the bench during the 2-0 reverse at the Allianz Arena in September.

In a statement, the club said: "There is a case for Carlos Tevez to answer of alleged breaches of contract.

"He will face disciplinary proceedings. The hearing will be convened shortly."

It concluded: "Carlos will be required to report for training on Thursday."

Continue reading the main story 12 December 2010 - Tevez says he is going to leave Man City 20 December 2010 - Withdraws transfer request and commits future to club16 May 2011 - Says he will only stay at club if solution found to "family issues" 8 June 2011 - Tevez says he will never return to "small and wet" Manchester after the end of his contract4 July 2011 - Tevez confirms he is going to leave City 12 July 2011 - City turn down £35m bid from Brazilian club Corinthians for Tevez27 September 2011 - City boss Roberto Mancini says that he wants Tevez "out of the club" after the striker allegedly refused to play against Bayern Munich28 September 2011 - City suspend Tevez for two weeks12 October 2011 - City announce that Tevez will face disciplinary proceedings

After the Bayern Munich game, City boss Roberto Mancini said: "He refused to come on the pitch. If I have my way, he will be out. He's finished with me."

But in a statement released the following day, Tevez said the dispute was a "misunderstanding" and "confusion on the bench". It is believed that the Argentina international stands by that view and categorically refutes the accusation he refused to play.

City suspended Tevez for two weeks on full pay while they conducted an inquiry, calling the forward to the club for questioning on Monday.

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "Manchester City have conducted things in a proper manner and they feel the evidence, as far as I am aware of, justifies a charge.

"There are a number of options to consider but ideally I would like a situation where both parties can walk away from it.

"The transfer window is not open until January. We've got the position of the manager and the position of the player to consider when trying to make sure both sides of the dispute can keep their heads up high.

"The most extreme option could be termination [of Tevez's contract] if the evidence justifies that or it could be a suspension without pay, or a fine. That fine could be anything from two weeks up to six weeks, with the approval of the PFA."

Tevez can request the company of the club captain Vincent Kompany or a member of the PFA to be present at the hearing, which could take as long as two weeks and will be chaired by a senior City figure who has not been part of the initial investigation.

If the ruling goes against the former Manchester United man, he could then appeal, with that hearing likely to involve a representative of the Abu Dhabi-based consortium that took over at Eastlands in 2008.

Tevez was mistranslated - Joorabchian

If he is again unsuccessful, Tevez would be able take his case to the Premier League, meaning the dispute may not be settled until mid-December.

Tevez has scored 53 goals in 91 appearances since joining City in the summer of 2009.

In May, he captained Mancini's side as they beat Stoke City in the FA Cup final at Wembley to win the club's first major trophy in 35 years.

However, Tevez has twice asked for a transfer away from Manchester.

His first request, which was later withdrawn, came in December 2010 when the former West Ham man said he was homesick.

Tevez again asked to leave City in July, citing family reasons, and looked set to move before a proposed deal with Brazilian side Corinthians fell through.

But a move failed to materialise and BBC Sport learned that Tevez, who has failed to score in five appearances this season, had given up on leaving City before the end of the summer transfer window.

After Tevez was suspended by City, the club rejected an offer from West Ham to take him on loan, while Corinthians have indicated that their interest in signing the striker is over.

For the latest updates and reaction to this story, read Sportsday Live. Have your say on Twitter via the hashtag #bbcsportsday.

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