Roberto Mancini to escape touchline ban for altercation with David Moyes
Immediate apology offered to opposite number is expected to earn the Manchester City manager a reprieve ahead of his derby match
James Ducker
RECOMMEND?
Roberto Mancini is expected to earn a timely reprieve today before the Manchester derby by escaping a touchline ban for his bust-up with David Moyes, the Everton manager, last month.
The Manchester City manager was charged with improper conduct by the FA after barging into Moyes at the end of his team’s 2-0 home defeat on March 24, when the Italian accused his Everton counterpart of time-wasting by holding on to the ball.
But an FA regulatory commission is likely to look favourably on Mancini at a hearing today on the basis that he apologised immediately for his behaviour, accepted his guilt and that it was a first-time offence in a country he moved to only in December. The Italian is expected to escape with a formal written warning, although there is a possibility he could be fined.
It would mean Mancini would be free to patrol the touchline when City take on Manchester United at the City of Manchester Stadium in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday in a game that could have far-reaching consequences for both clubs.
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City making progress with wanted list
A City victory would not only increase their chances of finishing fourth but effectively end United’s hopes of winning an unprecedented fourth successive title, and record nineteenth in all.
City believe the offer of Champions League football would greatly improve their chances of luring world-class players to the club in the summer, although one player who has opted not to wait to discover their fate is Jérôme Boateng, the highly rated 6ft 3in Hamburg and Germany defender.
Boateng, 21, who is the younger brother of Kevin-Prince Boateng, the Portsmouth midfield player, will become the third player, after Vincent Kompany and Nigel De Jong, to have joined City from Hamburg in the past two years when he arrives in an £11 million deal on July 1.
Immediate apology offered to opposite number is expected to earn the Manchester City manager a reprieve ahead of his derby match
James Ducker
RECOMMEND?
Roberto Mancini is expected to earn a timely reprieve today before the Manchester derby by escaping a touchline ban for his bust-up with David Moyes, the Everton manager, last month.
The Manchester City manager was charged with improper conduct by the FA after barging into Moyes at the end of his team’s 2-0 home defeat on March 24, when the Italian accused his Everton counterpart of time-wasting by holding on to the ball.
But an FA regulatory commission is likely to look favourably on Mancini at a hearing today on the basis that he apologised immediately for his behaviour, accepted his guilt and that it was a first-time offence in a country he moved to only in December. The Italian is expected to escape with a formal written warning, although there is a possibility he could be fined.
It would mean Mancini would be free to patrol the touchline when City take on Manchester United at the City of Manchester Stadium in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday in a game that could have far-reaching consequences for both clubs.
RELATED LINKS
Hart won’t want to be City reserve, says McLeish
Tevez fires timely warning to locals
City making progress with wanted list
A City victory would not only increase their chances of finishing fourth but effectively end United’s hopes of winning an unprecedented fourth successive title, and record nineteenth in all.
City believe the offer of Champions League football would greatly improve their chances of luring world-class players to the club in the summer, although one player who has opted not to wait to discover their fate is Jérôme Boateng, the highly rated 6ft 3in Hamburg and Germany defender.
Boateng, 21, who is the younger brother of Kevin-Prince Boateng, the Portsmouth midfield player, will become the third player, after Vincent Kompany and Nigel De Jong, to have joined City from Hamburg in the past two years when he arrives in an £11 million deal on July 1.