Craig Bellamy is involved in another Manchester City investigation after allegations of an incident in the players’ tunnel at the end of his team’s 2-0 defeat by Everton at Eastlands on Wednesday night.
Sportsmail understands City striker Bellamy will be spoken to today by the club’s football administrator Brian Marwood about comments he is alleged to have made as
he left the field.
One story leaked to Sportsmail last night was that Bellamy may have made audible comments in support of David Moyes in the wake of the touchline bust-up between the Everton manager and City boss Roberto Mancini towards the end of the Barclays Premier League match.
It is understood that Bellamy will be asked about this and that other City
players may be questioned about what they saw or heard.
Last night City would not comment. Bellamy fell out with Mancini over the Italian’s coaching methods in February. It is certainly not unusual for him to argue with opponents or team-mates after a game.
However, reports of this latest incident are known to have been serious enough to
prompt City to investigate.
The development came as City last night found themselves in an escalating row with Everton over a directors’ box disagreement between Eastlands chief executive Garry Cook and a guest of the Merseyside club’s official party.
Managers Mancini and Moyes could yet be charged with misconduct by the FA after
they clashed on the touchline in injury time. But it also emerged last night that a
rivalry that intensified when City pursued and signed defender Joleon Lescott
from Goodison Park in the summer spilled over in the directors’ box.
It is understood that Cook reacted angrily when he believed millionaire property director George Downing — a guest of an Everton director — was joining in with chants coming from the away end at the final whistle.
With Everton fans singing: ‘2-0 and we’ve spent **** all’, Cook turned round and told Downing to shut up. City allege that Downing’s language then became increasingly offensive while Everton claim that it was Cook who was on his feet spouting obscenities.
Furious Everton want an apology from Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook after he had a VIP fan and his wife thrown out of Eastlands.
The Goodison club are angry that influential property millionaire George Downing and his wife were ejected by security men at Cook’s request following heated words during their game.
Relations between the clubs have been strained since the Joleon Lescott transfer affair and insults were hurled following Everton’s second goal in their shock 2-0 success on Wednesday night.
Cook was unhappy at the taunts from the away fans and thought the Everton VIPs were taking the mickey too - singling out Downing, who was a special guest of the Toffees board.
At the final whistle security men escorted Downing and his wife from the ground - and now Everton have demanded an apology for their behaviour.
Downing is so upset that he may take his own personal action against Cook if the record is not put straight and the £1.5 million-a-year City supremo will be under pressure to say ‘sorry.’
Everton admitted last night that they wanted City to apologise and spokesman Ian Ross said: “I can confirm we have written to Mr Cook to ask for his observations.”
Manchester City line up £11m bid for Hamburg's Jerome Boateng and Osasuna's Cesar Azpilicueta
Manchester City will revive an £11m move for German international defender Jerome Boateng in the summer.
Manager Roberto Mancini, who also dispatched scouts to watch Osasuna right-back and long-time target Cesar Azpilicueta this week, is planning a major squad overhaul centring on his defence.
Hamburg centre-back Boateng, 21, whose contract says he can leave for £11m, has inspired his club to the Europa League quarter-finals and sixth place in the Bundesliga. His brother Kevin-Prince is due to leave Portsmouth this summer.
The Germans want 6ft 3ins Boateng to extend his current contract to 2013. However, he is keen on the challenge at City and could be joined by Azpilicueta - even though Osasuna want £15m for the 20-year-old Spaniard.
City scouts have watched Azpilicueta all season after Mark Hughes was initially alerted to him. They were once again spying on him during Osasuna’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona on Wednesday but he has a contract until 2014 that would make his purchase costly.
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Lokomotiv Moscow have not given up on signing Roman Pavlyuchenko from Tottenham. Daily Mail
Nice striker Loic Remy is keen to join Arsenal in the summer. TribalFootball.com
Portsmouth have been offered £250,000 by Spartak Moscow to terminate Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's loan early and send him back to the Russian side. Daily Mail
Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish is reportedly keen on Nantes youngster Jonathan Nanizayamo. Daily Mirror
Everton want to lure Bristol City youngster Christian Ribeiro to Goodison Park. TribalFootball.com
Nottingham Forest have suffered more transfer frustration after failing to land Aston Villa left-back Wilfred Bouma on loan. Daily Mirror
WAG OF THE DAY
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OTHER BOLLOX
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola banned team co-owner David Sullivan from a meeting with his players as their relationship breaks down in the wake of Sullivan's highly critical open letter to fans. Daily Mail
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has suspended contract talks with stars such as William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre, refusing to discuss terms until crucial matches are out of the way. The Guardian
No such worries at Liverpool, where midfielder Javier Mascherano has pledged his future to the club and expects to sign a new contract soon. PremierLeague.com
England fans are angry that the team will play three Euro 2012 qualifiers on Fridays so that players can return to their clubs a day early. The Guardian
Portsmouth's Ricardo Rocha has accused Chelsea star Florent Malouda of setting out to hurt him with a swipe of the elbow during the teams' Premier League clash on Wednesday. Daily Mail
Three-time world player of the year Ronaldo has apologised for making an obscene gesture to fans of his Corinthians team in Brazil after their defeat by Paulista. NBC
