Manchester City forced to reduce Tevez fine

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
Carlos Tevez has not featured for Manchester City since his row with Roberto Mancini.Manchester City forced to halve the fine handed out to Carlos TevezProfessional Footballers' Association said four week fine was excessiveTevez docked a month's wages by his club for five breaches of contractCity say the PFA's involvement in the case is a 'conflict of interest'

(CNN) -- Manchester City have been forced to halve the four-week fine they handed out to Carlos Tevez after the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) refused to sanction the move.

The English Premier League club had punished the Argentina international with a fine of a month's wages after finding him guilty of five breaches of contract for his refusal to warm up during a Champions League game with German club Bayern Munich.

Tevez was a substitute in Germany and City initially accused the striker of refusing to play but later downgraded the charges.

As such, the PFA, the union that represent players in England and Wales, insisted that a fine of two week's wages was the maximum allowed.

In a statement on their official web site City said: "Manchester City is disappointed by the apparent PFA conflict of interest evident in this process.

Manchester City is disappointed by the apparent PFA conflict of interest evident in this process
Manchester City statement

"Carlos Tevez has been personally represented throughout by the PFA chief executive, on whose considerations the club has been informed that the PFA has made its decision.

"Manchester City has been in constant dialogue with the PFA since September 28th. Today's PFA decision is a departure from the club's understanding of that dialogue.

"Without recourse to the PFA decision available, the maximum two-week fine provided for in standard player contracts will now be applied in relation to the misconduct of Carlos Tevez."

Tevez has not featured for City since the Bayern game in late September when the row with manager Roberto Mancini erupted on the touchline.

The Italian said after the game that Tevez had refused to come on as a substitute and also said the striker would "never" play for the club again.

Tevez insisted the incident was a misunderstanding, claiming he refused to warm-up because he had already done so. Tevez has been forced to train alone since the incident.

In his absence City have built up a five point lead at the top of the Premier League and recorded a 6-1 win at rivals Manchester United last weekend. They face Wolves on Saturday.

View the original article here

Manchester United hit for six by rampant City

Mario Balotelli scores twice in Manchester City's 6-1 rout of Manchester UnitedManchester City beat Manchester United 6-1 in derby clash at Old TraffordVictory takes City five points clear of United at the top of English Premier LeagueUnited have Jonny Evans sent off early in second half for foul on Mario BalotelliNine-man Chelsea miss chance to go second in table
(CNN) -- Manchester City stunned city rivals Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford Sunday with Mario Balotelli scoring the opening two goals in the rout.
It was the heaviest home defeat for reigning champions United in the English Premier League and left them five points adrift of City at the top of the table.
Balotelli fired City ahead after 22 minutes and was then involved in the game's pivotal moment two minutes into the second half.
The 21-year-old Italian's strength took him clear of United defender Jonny Evans, who could only pull him back as he closed on goal.
Referee Mark Clattenburg was left with no option than to show Evans the red card and the floodgates opened.
It's our worst ever day. It's the worst result in my history
Alex Ferguson
Balotelli, forced to move out of his Manchester home on Saturday after a late night prank with fireworks went wrong, was on hand to slot home after brilliant work by David Silva and James Milner.
When Sergio Aguero added the third on the hour mark, the game was up for Alex Ferguson's home team, but they did pull back a goal after a sublime strike by Darren Fletcher.
But that was the signal for City to really rub in their dominance as substitute Edin Dzeko grabbed a fourth in the 90th minute.
With United in total disarray, Silva tapped in from close range and Dzeko added his second and the sixth in injury time.
City manager Roberto Mancini hailed the result as proof of the strength of their title challenge.
"I'm satisfied because we beat United away and I don't think there are a lot of teams that could win here," he told Sky Sports.
"I think this game is important because we beat them at Old Trafford but not for the 6-1."
By contrast, Ferguson was annoyed with his players for conceding late goals when down to 10 men and with the game gone.
"It was our worst ever day," he conceded "It's the worst result in my history, ever. Even as a player I don't think I ever lost 6-1. I can't believe the scoreline. The first goal was a blow for sure but it was retrievable at 1-0.
"The sending off was a killer for us. We kept attacking when we went 4-1 down and we should have just said, 'We've had our day'."
Chelsea later fluffed the chance to move above United into second place when they were beaten 1-0 by west London rivals Queens Park Rangers.
Chelsea were reduced to nine-men after first half red cards for Jose Bosingwa and Didier Drogba.
Heidar Helguson had put QPR ahead from the spot after being fouled by David Luiz before referee Chris Foy sent off Boswinga for pulling back Shaun Wright-Phillips and Drogba for a studs-up challenge.
Chelsea had their chances to level with Nicolas Anelka wasting the best, but QPR held on to gain three valuable points.
Earlier Sunday, Arsenal captain Robin van Persie came off the substitute's bench to help his side to a 3-1 home win over Stoke City.
Peter Crouch had leveled for Stoke following Gervinho's opener, but Dutch ace van Persie continued his fine scoring run with a double to lift Arsenal up to seventh.
Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur also took closer order in the battle for Champions League spots with a 2-1 win at struggling Blackburn.
Two goals by Rafael van der Vaart secured the Spurs victory, their fifth of the season, while at Craven Cottage, Everton scored twice in injury time to clinch a 3-1 victory over Fulham.
View the original article here

Manchester City leapfrog United

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Mario Balotelli gestures after scoring Manchester City's opener against Aston Villa.Manchester City go top of the English Premier League after 4-1 win over Aston VillaMario Balotelli puts City in front with his fourth goal in four gamesManchester United held 1-1 at Liverpool to lose top spot Bolton move off the bottom with 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Wigan

(CNN) -- Manchester City knocked neighbors Manchester United off the top of the English Premier League standings with a 4-1 defeat of Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium Saturday.

Mario Balotelli set City on their way to a convincing victory with a clever overhead kick after Villa failed to clear a corner. It was the fourth goal in four games for the brooding striker.

Roberto Mancini's men added further second half goals through the excellent Adam Johnson, Vincent Kompany and James Milner against his old side.

Stephen Warnock scored a late consolation for well-beaten Villa.

Mancini praised Balotelli, who has taken his chance well after being on the sidelines for the opening few matches of the season.

He is motivated because he is playing well and scoring
Roberto Mancini on Mario Balotelli

"He is motivated because he is playing and scoring," he told Press Association.

"It is important moment for him. I think that for a player on the bench with me it is not easy to watch the game and not play in a team playing well and scoring goals."

With United held 1-1 by Liverpool in the early kick off, City pulled two points clear in the chase for the title ahead of the eagerly-awaited Manchester derby next weekend.

Steven Gerrard, making his first start for Liverpool in seven months, put the home side ahead with a second half free-kick which found its way through the United wall to beat David de Gea.

But Javier Hernandez, a late substitute, grabbed an 81st minute equalizer after slack home defense allowed the Mexican to steal in.

Wayne Rooney was also kept on the bench for the majority of the match by manager Alex Ferguson, who revealed after the draw that his star striker was "devastated" by UEFA's decision to ban him for three games for the Euro 2012 finals after a sending off for England.

Rooney turned defender late on to prevent Luis Suarez from heading home, while de Gea made a superb save to deny Jordan Henderson.

Third placed Chelsea later closed to within a point of Manchester United as they beat Everton 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Goals from Daniel Sturridge, captain John Terry and Brazilian midfielder Ramires put them 3-0 ahead before a late strike from Greek substitute Apostolos Vellios gave Everton a deserved score.

In other matches, Bolton moved off the bottom of the table with a 3-1 win at fellow strugglers Wigan.

Blackburn replaced them despite holding Queens Park Rangers to a 1-1 draw at Loftus Road, while Norwich beat Swansea 3-1 in a battle of promoted sides.

Stoke had late goals from Jonathan Walters and Rory Delap to thank for a 2-0 home win over Fulham.

View the original article here

Manchester City leapfrog United

AppId is over the quota
Manchester City knock neighbors Manchester United off the top of the English Premier League standings with a 4-1 defeat of Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium Saturday with Mario Balotelli scoring the opener.

View the original article here