Manchester rivalry is great, the FA should leave them alone

The Carling Cup semi-final first leg between Manchester City and Manchester United on Tuesday certainly had a highly charged atmosphere. Some would say that the tension between the two sides is potentially as high as it has ever been and it is reported that the FA are going to speak to both clubs prior to the second leg to ensure that things do not get out of hand.

Gesture

The main point of controversy on Tuesday was when Carlos Tevez celebrated one of his goals with a cupped-ear gesture aimed towards the Manchester United bench and it appeared that United substitute Gary Neville responded with a one fingered gesture at the Argentine striker.

The arrival of Manchester City in the big time with all of their billions of pounds and big name signings was always going to unsettle Manchester United. When Tevez went on to join City on a five-year deal, accusations flew between the player and United over the circumstances of his departure from Old Trafford. Suddenly it was all very personal.

Angrily

Sir Alex Ferguson reacted very angrily to the poster produced by Manchester City with a picture of Carlos Tevez and the caption, ‘welcome to Manchester’. There was a little war of words after that and then the league meeting between the two sides at Old Trafford did nothing to diffuse the situation.

Tevez was roundly booed by the United fans who had previously regarded him as one of their favourites. He enjoyed cult status at Old Trafford but that is a distant memory now. United won that game with a goal several minutes into a long injury-time that incensed City.

Money

Before the game on Tuesday, Gary Neville was quoted as saying that United were right to let Tevez leave in the summer, rather than signing him on a permanent deal after his two-year loan spell ended. He suggested that Tevez would not have been worth the money.

Following the game Tevez spoke to the Daily Mail and said,

“I thought Gary Neville had been disrespectful by talking about me like that. He cannot possibly know the full story of what happened at Old Trafford. I was honourable at all times and I think it was wrong of him to talk about another footballer in that way. For me, to celebrate in front of him was not malicious. It was just banter. That is what the game is all about. I didn’t see if he did anything back.”

The FA are looking at the gesture made by Neville which was picked up by the cameras but as they can’t prove it was specifically directed at Tevez they are unlikely to take any action.

Tension

All of this makes me wonder if the FA and the media are not reacting a bit too much. Of course there is tension in a big local derby, that is why we love them so much. All that has happened is that some harsh words have been said, Tevez has metaphorically given Gary Neville the finger and Neville has returned it with a real one. Big deal!

Isn’t Tevez right when he says that it isn’t malicious, it is just banter? Nobody has been killed, it is just excitement, tension and everything that makes a local derby so interesting. Let’s stop ‘pussy-footing’ about and let them get on with it.

It is a long time since the Manchester derby has really meant anything and I’m sure that the fans of both clubs are absolutely loving the fact that the old rivalry is back. I for one can’t wait to see the next instalment.