Last Friday morning, when news reports began to circulate that Carlos Tevez was considering legal action against Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness, my immediate thought was ‘how has it come to this?’
The incident in question followed the now infamous turn of events that took place when Manchester City travelled to Bayern Munich in September. After the game Roberto Mancini accused Tevez of refusing to come on as a substitute, an accusation the Argentinian striker strongly refutes.
City suspended the player for failing to warm up and failing to follow instructions and fined him four weeks wages over the incident, a fine since reduced to two weeks when the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) stepped in.
After the game, Souness echoed the thoughts of many viewers in his tirade against the former City captain. The clips remain on YouTube, with Graeme Souness stating “I’m in disbelief. How selfish can you get? Tevez is one bad apple. He can undo all the good work that has been done at City. He’s a disgrace to football. He epitomises what the man in the street thinks is wrong with modern football. It is totally unacceptable. He’s a football player and he is paid to play.”
Now, Souness could find himself subject to libel action with Tevez recently having consulted two media specialist QCs who believe Tevez has a strong case for defamation.
Sky and Souness have thus far refused to comment.
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The real issue to many onlookers will be how has this situation come about? Carlos Tevez is a world class footballer. A player who at differing points in his career has been idolised in Argentina, East London and most recently in both the red and blue halves of Manchester. Carlos Tevez is a player appreciated for his never say die attitude and commitment to the cause each and every game. Last season Carlos Tevez was the captain of Manchester City, Roberto Mancini’s leader on the pitch. You get the point; Carlos Tevez was not a player one would have expected to become embroiled in such a debacle.
Tevez being fined £400,000 by the club, a mere two weeks wages, and hiring lawyers for an impending legal battle is so far from the reality that most football supporters live in, it leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Gathering opinions from friends and fellow football fans, most hope that no such legal battle against Graeme Souness is launched, if it is it will mark a worrying precedent for when footballers are criticised.
After all, if fans lose that slight sense of empathy that still remains with their heroes, it will be a sad day for football.
Tevez was expected to return to Manchester City training on Wednesday, he did not, instead he went AWOL and flew back to Argentina. The striker now faces another potential suspension and fine, surely signalling the end of his Manchester City career. The club’s lawyers will undoubtedly now be considering their next step, in what is a disappointing tale for all fans of football.
Follow me on Twitter @CamHumphries for discussion regarding all things football.
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