SIR ALEX FERGUSON has ignited a new Carlos Tevez storm by insisting the Manchester City star should be BANNED from Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final showdown at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United manager is adamant Tevez should have been sent off in City's 2-1 first leg triumph over their bitter rivals at Eastlands.
Referee Mike Dean did not even caution the Argentine match-winner for an X-rated lunge on United defender Wes Brown.
But Fergie fumed: "Tevez should have been sent off, really. Have you seen that tackle? He went right over the ball. But he didn't even get booked."
A red card would have meant an automatic three-match ban for the former United striker, who has been at the centre of controversy ever since the two sides were drawn to play each other in the semi-final.
First United skipper Gary Neville accused Tevez of not being worth £25million and insisted Fergie was right to let him join City in the summer.
Tevez hit back by taunting both Fergie and Neville on the pitch after his two goals clinched City's win and then branded the defender "stupid" and "a bootlicker."
Fergie's outburst comes just days after the FA reminded both sides of their responsibilities on the pitch in a bid to prevent crowd trouble in the return leg.
But Fergie blasted the FA for sticking their nose in, adding: "Is that the FA's domain? It is the League Cup. Bloody hell, what next?
"Tevez should have been sent off, really. Other than that, nothing happened in the game.
"It was competitive but there were no confrontations on the pitch, nothing."
However, United are beefing up security ahead of Wednesday's clash. Police fear trouble will erupt between the two sets of supporters and have cancelled all leave for their officers on the day.
City are taking 9,000 fans to Old Trafford as they close in on their first Wembley final since the 1986 Full Members Cup.
Greater Manchester Police plan to use sniffer dogs to stop any supporters trying to smuggle flares into Old Trafford.
There are fears City fans have bought tickets in the United end after the Reds put them on general sale.
Police are also planning to keep City fans locked in at Old Trafford immediately after the final whistle to prevent any trouble outside the stadium.
But Fergie tried to play down the importance of the game, insisting: "I won't be relishing this more than any other game this season.
"At the outset the object was to qualify for the final and we can still do that.
"I always said the game was going to be decided at Old Trafford and that's the case."
(Source: news of the world)
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