Manchester City have called on the BBC to apologise to Benjani Mwaruwari after it was claimed the Zimbabwean striker could be banned from playing in Britain.
The BBC's Inside Sport claimed last night that the option of banning Zimbabwean athletes from competing in this country is being discussed as part of a strategy to put pressure on Robert Mugabe's regime.
Benjani, who arrived from Portsmouth on transfer deadline day in January, was named as one player who could be affected.
But today sources said the government is considering preventing the Zimbabwe cricket team touring England next summer but a blanket ban on sports stars from the southern African country is not on the agenda.
City issued a strongly-worded statement on their website, regarding the striker's status.
Spokesman Paul Tyrrell said: "This is the worst type of scare story which shows a lack of editorial integrity from the programme makers.
"Although we are pleased that the BBC have today been quickly distancing themselves from the claim regarding Benjani, it is important to make the position crystal clear regarding his ability to live and work in the UK.
Corruption
"The player last month received a three-and-a-half-year work permit from the Home Office to play for Manchester City.
"We have been assured work permits are non-negotiable.
"The programme makers and the BBC should apologise to the player immediately."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is keen to take a tough stance against President Mugabe but the government will also wait until the outcome of the general election in Zimbabwe, and the ICC inquiry into allegations of corruption within the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, before making a decision.
A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: “Our position hasn’t changed and no decisions have been taken, though the matter of cricket tours with Zimbabwe is under review.
“We are keeping in close contact with the ECB on the matter. While there are currently no sporting sanctions on Zimbabwe, we should not let international sport become a propaganda tool for dictators.”
Zimbabwe’s cricket side are due to play two five-day matches and three one-day internationals next summer.
The England and Wales Cricket Board would have to pay an estimated £225,000 in compensation under ICC rules if the one-day matches are cancelled.
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Brilliant!
Maybe now Benjani will end his scoring ban
typical bbc,sticking the boot into city.if he played his home games in salford nothing would have be said
Why would the BBC have it in for City? Can't understand why so many fans have chips of their shoulders, thinking the world's out to get their club. There's a name for that condition: Paranoia.
You lot, you make us the laughing stock of football.
And I can't see what the club are getting their knickers in a twist over. The BBC made a mistake and have distanced themselves from it. Apology? No chance. What harm has been done to Benjani?. The ONLY answer to that question is: NONE.
Move on and grow up and realise the whole world is not trying to do our club down: it's players, managers and fans have been doing a great job of that for more than three decades. Can't you see why our fans are laughed at by the whole of the country?
I like Benjani. Was great when the commentator after the Utd win said " Now you understand there was great emotion around the occasion, (in reference to Munich 50th anniversary) how difficult was it to keep your focus on the match today?" Benjani's reply " No as far as im concerned the deal was done on Thursday (in reference to his transfer) so i didn't put it in my mind. Priceless!!
Colin Bell is Class.
1. Please don't take Colin Bell's name in vain
2. Are our fans are laughed at by the whole of the country? That's not my experience, and never has been even in our darkest times.
What have the BBC got to apologise for. If the govt were talking of a complete ban on all Zimbabwe's sportsmen/women, then Benj would've fallen into that category.
Seeing though Benji and Nick Price are the most well known sports stars (in this country) from Zimbabwe, they were given as examples of who could be affected.
Very surprised the govt are thinking of just banning the cricketers. If that happens then there is real danger of the ICC taking the next 20/20 World Cup off of us, hence the discussion of the blanket ban.
Colin Bell was class, does that go for a majority of the Pundits then???? i think not, bye
eveybody has it in for us Have you seen the puppet of sven on setanta its a disgrace and there taking the mick out of the club and the fans with it. sven's puppet is the only puppet on there who's managing in the premier. do you think they would have the bottle to make on of the rags manager? I Don't think so
Colin Bell was Class:
I was agreeing with your comments until you said the whole country laughs at City fans!
What utter nonsense.
The people I have met from all parts of the U.K.have always been impressed by the loyal support City get and say what great supporters they are.
Talk about doom and gloom merchants, this site certainly has too many without slagging the City fans off.
Redarmy
What on earth is that comment trying to say?
Some punctuation, correct spelling and some sense would be helpful when submitting comments - or is that asking too much?
Try thinking of how many times the ball ended up in the United net in the Derby
BBC apologise !! ha-ha !! not in their character .. the sooner they are disbanded or privatised the better, for all .. on a totally different matter, how many of SGE's summer signings will be here at the start of next season ?? cant see Elano, Giovanni, Bianchi, or indeed Corluka being here somehow.. strong interest from serie 'a' elano ands corluka, am told .. pip..pip..
Do you really think that Mugabe would give a hoot about whether Zimbabwean sports people can compete here or not ?
Don't you think a better strategy would be to ban ALL British people from going TO Zimbabwe ? All Sportsmen, all Professions. Everyone. Call back all the Brits who are already there. That way Mugabe's regime would see the damage to their own economy. The effect on the ordinary classes in Zimbabwe would be unchanged as their existence as their lives must already be pretty intolerable.
Let's face it, if Zimbabwe had Oil then Mugabe would have been ousted long ago. Double standards, Brown (and Blair before him).
Whoa whoa whoa......wait a god damn minute.......Colin Bell Was Class......WTF! Who do you mean "you lot make us a laughing stock"
I think YOU should get off your soap box and take stock of what you just said. There is one comment on here about the BBC 'sticking the boot into City again'. That hardly calls for a condemnation of "us all".
Some people feel, rightly or wrongly, that City have been treated a little badly, especially since for Sven has taken over, due to his experience with the England team. But it is their right to express their views on this FORUM. That is what FORUMS are for.
And I might be wrong but I would imagine that this happens on most club's FORUMS. So your claims that this 'PARANOIA' is to blame for us being a "laughing stock" is completely and utterly rubbish!
I am a City supporter. The poor non-management at City should grow up. This is pathetic. Start by putting our loyal supporters FIRST.
Colin Bell was class - Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed again this morning? Hopefully you banged your head. As usual your comments are drivel.
Is it just possible 'Colin Bell Was Class', was setting you lot up to over-react in a 'typical City fan' kinda way to demonstrate, far better than he ever could, why other clubs' fans find ours' so amusing? Why react to such an obvious wind up?
BTW, don't think anyone could take Bell's name in vain, he wasn't THAT good, certainly not in Best's class.*
*think about it...
I blame Stephen Ireland.
Tony*68, Get a grip, and eat those chips.... which are balanced squarely on your shoulder. For Christ's sake, that Setanta thing is comedy, a bit like Spitting Image from years ago, but not as funny. It's a compliment to Sven to be chosen, it means he is high-profile and that's good for the club to have a high-profile manger. Some people... they don't have a clue
Club should be applauded for sticking up to the BBC. There appears to be no foundation to their claim about Benjani being kicked out. All media talked about Government wanting to stop Zimbabwe cricket team touring and the BBC, in their desire to make everything look like a crisis for us, want to stick the knife into MCFC. Keep up the good work protecting us please.
THE BBC SHOULD BE A SHAMED OF THERE SELFS APOLOGISE AT MEATELY
anyone interested in buying a framed photo of tony book holding aloft the cup in 69.
1 of 500 made.genuine with signatures.
£150
Dave the Blue, i prefer counting the number of years your massive club (pride of thailand!?) has gone without a trophy in the cabinet..tick tock.
City should be demanding an apology at the way Match of the Day 2 edited the highlights of the recent Manchester Derby.... that was far more scandalous!
I'm getting very tired of the negative press about MCFC. Yesterday we had the Banner Headline "We've Been Rumbled" and references to Sven being "punch drunk" and today it's the Benjani work permit theme. There are wonderful things happening at our club - and progress rapidly made in very little time. Can we PLEASE have genuinely encouraging, honest reporting and less negativity.
Tony*68:
yeah I've seen Sven with Jose. I think it's funny. I would given SGE was not my first choice...but some fella who was unavailable at the time was.
We've all known about Mugabe since Ian Smith lost control and Joshua Nkomo's followers were massacred (and continue to be persecuted).
Where were YOU all then? Oh yeah, Mugabe claims to be a socialist, that's right, ssssshhhhh. Maggie Thatcher wanted to invade Rhodesia and kill the SOB.
Where are you now?
Hiding behind moderators?