Gary Neville and Carlos Tevez have been left in no doubt any repeat
of this week's unseemly arguments ahead of the Carling Cup decider
at Old Trafford on Wednesday will not be tolerated.
Neither Neville nor Tevez will face any action from the
Football Association over their ongoing row, triggered by comments
made by the Manchester United skipper in his newspaper column for
the Sunday Times in Malta.
Neville's assertion that Sir Alex Ferguson made the correct
decision to let Tevez leave Old Trafford last summer triggered the
South American's "shut it" goal celebration following his equaliser
in City's 2-1 win at Eastlands on Tuesday.
That brought a one-fingered gesture from Neville in response,
followed by Tevez labelling his former skipper "a moron" and "a
boot-licker" in a radio interview.
In slightly different ways, both Sir Alex Ferguson and
Roberto Mancini tried to calm the situation on Friday.
But the FA have been in touch with officials from the red and
blue halves of the city as well.
And Neville and Tevez have been warned that any repetition
will bring punishment that also takes into account this week's
indiscretions.
That would include any negative comments in pre-match
interviews, or any poor on-pitch behaviour.
In addition, the FA have pointed out that the Greater
Manchester Police force share their own concerns and, aware of the
flashpoint the fixture - and 9,000 visiting supporters - could
create, are urging both clubs to avoid anything that could be
deemed inflammatory.
