viernes, 4 de noviembre de 2011

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez may sue Graeme Souness for outburst - Telegraph.co.uk

Meanwhile, City have held discussions with Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester United for guidance on security issues in Naples ahead of the decisive Champions League group clash against Napoli later this month following knife attacks on six Bayern supporters in the city last month.

City have been allocated 3,000 tickets for the clash at the 60,000-capacity Stadio San Paolo on Nov 22, which is likely to decide the qualification fate of both clubs.

However, senior figures at the Etihad Stadium are sufficiently concerned about the security situation surrounding the game that plans are in place to provide detailed safety advice to their travelling fans.

Prior to Bayern's 1-1 draw against Napoli in October, four German supporters were slashed across the buttocks by knife-wielding moped riders outside the stadium, while two Bayern fans were stabbed within the city.

Following the incidents, the mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, condemned the attacks, saying: "Sport is not compatible with violence. That is why I strongly condemn what happened."

Last October, three Liverpool fans visiting the southern Italian city for a Europa League fixture were stabbed, with others complaining of being 'hunted down' by large groups of Napoli 'ultras.'

A group of journalists covering the game were also surrounded by a hardcore element of the Napoli supporters.

Napoli ultras, armed with clubs and knives, were involved in running battles with Udinese fans prior to a Serie A fixture in February 2010, while the club's fans have also fostered long-standing rivalries with Roma, Lazio and Verona supporters.

With tensions likely to be high in Naples when City visit later this month due to the importance of the fixture, which could see Napoli's hopes of qualification for the knock-out stages ended should they lose to Roberto Mancini's team, City are determined to avoid their own supporters becoming embroiled in similar outbreaks of violence.

Discussions have already taken place with officials from Bayern and Liverpool and, with neighbours United regular visitors to Italy in recent years to cities such as Turin, Milan and Rome — where the club set up fan embassies following violence-marred encounters with AS Roma — City, whose security and travel organisers visited Naples last month, have also sought advice from Old Trafford.

Greater Manchester Police were made aware of goading by United supporters on internet fans' forum earlier this season, which appeared to attempt to spark unrest between City and Napoli fans, and both GMP and the Football Association will send observers to the fixture as a matter of routine.

City midfielder Yaya Toure, who scored twice in the 3-0 victory at Villarreal on Wednesday, admits that the Napoli fixture is now decisive, with City two points clear of the Italian outfit going into the final two games of the group.

Toure said: "Napoli is now a massive game for us and it will be very important to take at least a point.

"They are very strong defensively and have quick players up front, so we must concentrate for the 90 minutes there.

"We need to try to go as far as possible in the competition, but it is too early to think about going right through [to the final] because there are some really big teams there.

"You have to respect Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United. They are always in the Champions League and they have lots of experience."

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