Wolves' Mick McCarthy joins Carlos Tevez criticism

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has slammed Carlos Tevez after his alleged refusal to play for Manchester City 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 with Bayern Munich had he been in charge of the player.

He has backed City's decision to fine the Argentinian striker and hopes Tevez's actions do not set a precedent which could lead to other players adopting a similar stance.

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.

"It is bad for the game globally, not just Manchester City. We do have a responsibility as a football club, as a manager, as players, to people who watch it and pay fortunes.

"The £1.2bn the Barclays Premier League generates every year all over the world, we have a responsibility to that and players do as well."

He added: "The suspension is the right course of action. It's a difficult one for the people at Manchester City handling it because you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.

"Everyone has got an opinion on it. It is a very visible high profile thing.

"What he did was completely wrong. I might have left him on the tarmac (in Germany) actually.

"You wouldn't want it to set a precedent where players can actually say they are not going to play.

"It is something that has come out of the blue and has shocked everybody."

FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce believes Tevez should be banned if the claim is proved.

Northern Irishman Boyce, speaking in a personal capacity, said: "I believe FIFA should have the power to ban the player from taking an active part in football.

"If Manchester City prove it, write to FIFA and state the exact circumstances that happened, I would have no problem with that whatsoever. It hasn't occurred before but I think what happened was despicable."

By JOHN CURTIS