Tevez to sue Souness over TV blast after Manchester City's defeat at Bayern Munich



Carlos Tevez is planning to take libel action against Sky pundit Graeme Souness in the latest fall-out from the Manchester City striker’s non-appearance in the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich in September.



Souness was critical of Tevez’s behaviour after manager Roberto Mancini claimed that the striker had refused to come on as substitute and would never play for City again.



Backlash: Carlos Tevez (left) is currently training with the youth team

Tevez, who is keen to take the matter to court in what would be an unprecedented case against a TV football analyst, has received the backing of two leading media specialist QCs this week.



They feel he has a strong defamation claim against Souness after City charged the player with refusing to warm up and failing to follow instructions rather than refusing to play.



Sticking point: Carlos Tevez (third right) on the bench at the Allianz Arena

And the players’ union, the PFA, have ensured Tevez has been fined a fortnight’s wages of £400,000 rather than the four weeks City originally imposed.



Souness said on Sky Sports, with clips still on YouTube: ‘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.’

Forthright views: Souness, pictured during his stint as Newcastle manager

Tevez has maintained throughout the saga that he never refused to come on as a substitute.

