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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11679_7264816,00.html

Toure set for City hearing
Former captain unhappy he could be punished over drugs ban
Last Updated: October 25, 2011 9:23am

Kolo Toure: Is due to face a hearing with Manchester City next week regarding his drugs ban

Skysports.com understands Kolo Toure is set for a disciplinary hearing with Manchester City officials next week as the club attempt to sanction the former captain for his drugs ban.

City, who supported Toure throughout the legal process and disciplinary hearings with the Football Association, have taken the surprise decision to try and discipline the defender eight months after the actual offence took place.

The latest revelation is an unwelcome distraction for high-flying City in the wake of the Carlos Tevez saga which has dominated the headlines in recent weeks at the club.

Toure was handed a six-month suspension in May for failing a routine drugs test after the Manchester derby at Old Trafford last February.

It emerged the banned substance found in Toure's drugs test came from a slimming tablet the player had taken.

The Ivory Coast international pleaded guilty to the offence and he made his return to action last month following the completion of his suspension.

However, City's hierarchy have now decided they will try and take their own action against the 30-year-old, who is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2013.

Toure is unhappy at the club's decision and he is believed to have the support of a number of his team-mates who have questioned the timing of the disciplinary case.

The Professional Footballers' Association is understood to be fully supportive of Toure in the case with chief executive Gordon Taylor expected to personally attend the hearing next week.

Toure and his legal team will attend the hearing which will be headed up by City's Football Administration Officer Brian Marwood and the club's lawyer Simon Cliff.‬ ‪

‪The player's adviser Saif Rubie admitted the defender was disappointed the club were planning to take action against him.

"Kolo is disappointed that the club have decided to take this stance and he will contest any planned action against him," Rubie told skysports.com.

"However, he will continue to give his all, as always, for Roberto Mancini and the team in their quest for honours this season."

Toure is expected to return to the City team as captain for Wednesday's Carling Cup fourth round tie against Wolves.

Very strange indeed. Don't quite understand why we'd make the decision to drag this up again after the support he's been given, his brother is an integral part of our team and with the tevez thing ongoing.

Any ideas?

they want rid?

that fat ass drug addict can fuck right off to psg.

I was surprised that no action was taken at the time. Kolo said he ran the tablets past the club doctor at the time which was apparently bullshit. The club have continued to pay him his massive wage despite the fact that he was banned as a result of his own stupidity. That said, I find the timing of it very odd. If sanctions were to have been enforced, it should have been done at the time.

Hope this is bolocks , very strange way to treat a player surely any punishment should have been given after he was found guilty unless this is a underhand way of getting rid , which would seem a bit side .

johnny crossan wrote:they want rid?

I imagine so, but i dont think Yaya will be best pleased. Surely theres a better way.

Not sure what to make it of all to be honest. I think Kolo is vital as he is one of only three senior centrehalves we have, so not sure pissing off Kolo is a wise move on the club's part.

If they wanted to do something like this, maybe they should have waited till a window is open(or very close) to give both sides another option.

There's obviously more to it that we don't know. I'm pretty sure they weren't all just sat about at some meeting and went 'Oh yeak, Kolo - forgot about him - shall we fine him?'....

To look at the other side for a second, the club have to be seen to do something. The bloke did fail a drugs test after all. It may just be a going-through-the-motions exercise though.

Tevez may be the reason.

We are looking to discipline a player who through his own actions made himself unavailable to play for 40 minutes of a match.

We have not disciplined a player who through his own actions made himself unavailable to play for 6 months.

City may not want any defence open to Tevez of 'double standards' and 'victimisation'

Also City is a different place to what it was earlier this year. Mood has hardened.

That said any hearing may fine Toure and suspend it allowing City to claim action was taken against Toure and Tevez is not been singled out

Still amazed you can knowingly take a banned(/questionable) substance, get yourself suspended for 6 months and expect to be paid for the effort.

He was quoted as saying he'd be open to a move to PSG. Maybe this has something to do with it

BobKowalski wrote:Tevez may be the reason.

We are looking to discipline a player who through his own actions made himself unavailable to play for 40 minutes of a match.

We have not disciplined a player who through his own actions made himself unavailable to play for 6 months.

City may not want any defence open to Tevez of 'double standards' and 'victimisation'

Also City is a different place to what it was earlier this year. Mood has hardened.

That said any hearing may fine Toure and suspend it allowing City to claim action was taken against Toure and Tevez is not been singled out

I hope that is all it is.
Ahead of Kia at last

BobKowalski wrote:Tevez may be the reason.

We are looking to discipline a player who through his own actions made himself unavailable to play for 40 minutes of a match.

We have not disciplined a player who through his own actions made himself unavailable to play for 6 months.

City may not want any defence open to Tevez of 'double standards' and 'victimisation'

Also City is a different place to what it was earlier this year. Mood has hardened.

That said any hearing may fine Toure and suspend it allowing City to claim action was taken against Toure and Tevez is not been singled out

I think that can be the only reason (or the only one I can think of). It levels things up legally from the club's point of view.

is it possible more information about the incident has come to light

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... es?cc=5901

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure is interested in a move to Paris St Germain but QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt thinks his chance of a move to the billionaire-owned club has ended.

Toure returned to the City side last month after serving a six-month suspension for failing a drug test while Taarabt has revealed that a move to the Parc des Princes was imminent in the summer, but that former Brazil international Leonardo nixed it.

"He preferred [Jeremy] Menez, [Javier] Pastore and even wanted Ganso. The Qatar officials told me 'do another great six months and in January we will be back'. However, I am under no illusion. I know I am not Leonardo's priority."

Toure played in the Blues' Carling Cup victory over Birmingham and the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich but has made only one appearance from the bench since then and was an unused substitute in City's 6-1 Premier League win against derby rivals Manchester United yesterday.

The 30-year-old Ivorian is now linked with Qatari-backed PSG, who have made no secret of their desire to lure former England captain David Beckham to the Parc des Princes.

"I would be interested because of the competition there currently is at City," Toure is quoted as saying by RMC Sport. "If the name of Paris comes it will not be like previous years.

"Now if they call me, I would listen to what they say. Given the very good players there are there, it really makes you want to go there, it's clear.

"I know I'm not the only player interested, there are other players who really want to play for PSG.

"It's not just for the money, but also because we see that there are very good investors who want to move the club to produce good football and win trophies."

Toure seems too smart to be saying stupid things like this. First he says that he want to move to PSG because of the competition @ City, then he also adds that the money from PSG will help the team win trophies. Well won't that same money increase the competition @ PSG and have Toure riding the bench in 2 years anyways?! If these quotes are true, he needs to accept that he is part of a squad and act like the senior professional that he is.

Dameerto wrote:

BobKowalski wrote:Tevez may be the reason.

We are looking to discipline a player who through his own actions made himself unavailable to play for 40 minutes of a match.

We have not disciplined a player who through his own actions made himself unavailable to play for 6 months.

City may not want any defence open to Tevez of 'double standards' and 'victimisation'

Also City is a different place to what it was earlier this year. Mood has hardened.

That said any hearing may fine Toure and suspend it allowing City to claim action was taken against Toure and Tevez is not been singled out

I think that can be the only reason (or the only one I can think of). It levels things up legally from the club's point of view.

This +2.... no wiggle room for Tevez in terms of precedents for disciplinary cases.