City win support in Tevez row

Barclays Premier League managers have voiced their support for Manchester City after the club suspended Carlos Tevez for his alleged refusal to take the field as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat by Bayern Munich.

After City suspended the striker for a maximum of two weeks, Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers said: "I thought City were spot on. It's hard to defend the indefensible. Everyone knows he's a top talent but if that's what happened it's a total lack of respect, not only for the manager but also the football club."

Tevez's former manager at West Ham, Alan Pardew, believes the "maverick" striker has let himself down. He said: "He's a maverick player and most Premier League clubs, we all carry one or two. They are going to have their moments and sometimes, it is about managing those moments."

The Newcastle boss added: "What Carlos did, there can't be any credit in what he did, but it does happen. He isn't the first and he certainly won't be the last who won't want to warm up and is sulking a little bit because they are not playing."

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy slammed Tevez and claimed: "It is bad for the game globally, not just the club."

Former City player McCarthy admits he would have been tempted to leave Tevez behind in Germany after the Champions League clash had he been in charge of the player.

McCarthy, who spent nearly three seasons with City, said: "Any other time, I wouldn't talk about anybody else's player. I'd say it is their problem. But I think it is a football problem if it is allowed to fester and, to happen again, it would be dreadful. What he did was completely wrong. I might have left him on the tarmac (in Germany) actually."