Manchester derby security to be increased in wake of Tevez-Neville row

• Extra police to be deployed at Carling Cup second leg
• Carlos Tevez’s agent Kia Joorabchian defends player

Carlos Tevez gestures to Gary Neville after scoring City’s first in their 2-1 Carling Cup win over United. Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Policing at next week’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg between Manchester United and Manchester City is to be increased amid fears that the spat between Carlos Tevez and Gary Neville could lead to issues with security.An extra 75 police will be on duty on Wednesday and spot checks will be made at pubs around the ground in what is described as “the highest risk” game at Old Trafford this season.The first leg, which City won 2-1, saw Tevez and the United substitute Neville exchange gestures and later Tevez called his former team-mate “a moron” and “a boot-licker”. The United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, also claimed that Tevez should have been sent off during the match at Eastlands.Tevez’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, admitted the frosty relations between the two, which arose from Neville’s insistence that Ferguson was right not to keep Tevez at Old Trafford, could spill over into Wednesday’s encounter.”Carlos played two years at Manchester United and he has very good relationships with a lot of the players,” Joorabchian told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He admires and likes Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs and he considers a lot of them friends of his.”I don’t think he will expect to have any atmosphere in relation to the players. But I guess he and Gary Neville are not going to be very good friends any time shortly.”Police made 18 arrests at last week’s match and expect to make more before Wednesday’s return after viewing video cameras. Ian Hopkins, the assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, revealed talks would take place tomorrow with United and City officials and the Football Association in a bid to prevent any trouble.Hopkins said he would also be reminding the players they have a responsibility not to provoke unrest in the stands.”I will be meeting with both the clubs again along with the FA tomorrow to discuss the general crowd behaviour and making sure that they understand their responsibility not to do anything that’s likely to incite the crowd,” he said.”We will be making the points very strongly that the players are professionals, they need to recognise the impact they can have on the crowd and it’s going to be really passionate again on Wednesday. There’s a lot at stake for both teams and for the fans.”Joorabchian, meanwhile, insisted that Tevez is not bitter at leaving United and his dispute is with Neville alone.Joorabchian said: “If you don’t have respect and class you have to accept that [Tevez is] entitled to say something back. Gary Neville stepped into something that maybe he shouldn’t have done and since he didn’t have that respect Carlos felt he had to answer.”I don’t think he [Tevez] has ever been bitter to Manchester United. I don’t think Carlos came anywhere near hitting his peak at Manchester United. In the next three or four years he has a lot more to offer.”The player’s advisor also believes the feud with Neville has only increased the anticipation around the match. “When I went to the City match I saw an atmosphere which was absolutely unbelievable, a great vibe, so much passion in it,” he said. “This little bitter matter has done nothing but improve this passion and it will give us an even greater build-up and a greater excitement.”

( “The Guardian” )

Gheddafi jr vicino al Portsmouth

2010-01-26 11:26 Sarebbe il quarto proprietario del club in sei mesi
(ANSA) – LONDRA, 26 GEN – Saadi Gheddafi, figlio del leader libico, il colonnello Muammar Gheddafi, e’ vicino all’acquisto del Portsmouth. Gia’ azionista della Juventus, Saadi e’ in trattativa per rilevare la maggioranza del club di Fratton Park, ora in mano a Ali Al Faraj. Qualora l’operazione andasse in porto Gheddafi Jr diventerebbe il quarto proprietario dei Pompey, ultimi in Premier League e zavorrati da un debito di circa 68 milioni di euro, negli ultimi sei mesi.