Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini and the 5 Most Frivolous Football Lawsuits

According to Richard Conway at BBC Sport, ostracised Manchester City forward Carlos Tévez is thinking about suing manager Roberto Mancini for defamation of character.

It’s not the first time Tévez has taken the legal route, having sued an Argentinean TV show for calling him ugly.  

Pretty frivolous, isn’t it?

Well, there’s a third Tévez lawsuit that is even more frivolous. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t sued FIFA for banning neck warmers.

So, in homage to Tévez’s propensity to go mano-a-mano (in court), let’s look at the five most frivolous lawsuits in football. 

5. Roberto Mancini

The likelihood of Roberto Mancini being sued for defamation of character was the inspiration for this article.

Karma at its finest.

When Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti fired Mancini for repeated failures in Europe, Mancini turned to his lawyers, according to La Gazzeta dello Sport.

“I have instructed my lawyer to protect my image in all competent courts, censuring the actions of my former employer for its misuse of bogus and illegal episodes,” Mancini wrote in a statement to ANSA.

What’s frivolous about the lawsuit is that only a month before his sacking, he announced he would leave at the end of the season, only to do a U-turn on his decision.

So, when he did get to leave, he decided to sue Inter Milan. 

Mancini and Inter Milan later settled out of court. 

4. Dean Ashton

When Dean Ashton retired in December 2009, he sought compensation from the FA, claiming Shaun Wright-Phillips ended Ashton’s career with a tackle in 2006.

Not only was it three years after the incident, but Ashton played 30 more games. So, it didn’t end his career, did it?

Then West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola opined on the incident, telling the Guardian, “It comes very much as a surprise to me. I don't know if it's what he [Ashton] wants to do. It seems strange he might want to do something like that, but we'll see what happens.”

In February 2011, Ashton settled with the FA out of court.

Then, West Ham United, Ashton’s last club, decided to sue the FA.

Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady wrote in The Sun, “Besides the physical cost of losing a £10 million player, there are a number of add-ons such as finding a replacement for Ashton and potential rewards lost on league placings.

"We will fight to the end for the compensation that is due to us on both moral and financial grounds,” she said.

3. Sheffield United

When Sheffield United was relegated from the Premier League in the 2006-07 season, they decided to sue West Ham United, who would have been relegated if they were docked points for the suspect signings of Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano.

Such sour grapes from Sheffield United, who failed to avoid defeat to fellow relegation strugglers Wigan Athletic.

In 2009, West Ham United and Sheffield United settled out of court for a figure believed to be more than £15 million.

As of October 2011, West Ham United are in the Championship, and Sheffield United are in League One. 

2. Carlos Tévez

This would foreshadow Carlos Tévez's problems. I do wonder why Manchester City and Manchester United didn't pay more attention to this incident. 

In 2003, Tévez refused to play for the Argentine U-20 team because he wanted to play for Boca Juniors.

The AFA overruled his preference to play for Boca Juniors, and Tévez took the AFA to court, stating they were denying him the right to work where he wanted.

He later withdrew the case after discussions with AFA president Julio Grondona.

A year later, Tévez scored eight goals as Argentina won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

1. Charlie Davies

Charlie Davies suffered a lacerated bladder, fractured right tibia and femur, a fractured elbow, multiple facial fractures and bleeding on the brain after a horrific automobile accident that claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman.

The fact Davies is scoring goals and looking pretty good for DC United speaks volumes of his fortitude to overcome such a sickening situation.

Yet, the American international has filed a $20 million lawsuit against the nightclub, who served the alcohol to the driver of the vehicle in the crash, and against Red Bull, who hosted the party, according to the Washington Post.

Shouldn’t Davies be suing Maria Alejandra Espinoza, the drunk driver he was with?

Oh, Espinoza is in jail and doesn’t have $20 million—but, Red Bull does.

Keep in mind, Davies broke U.S. team curfew to attend the party, so he got himself into the situation.

Also, how negligent was Davies went he got into the car of a “visibly intoxicated” Espinoza? 

Did the night club and Red Bull force Davies into the car?

The American international needs to look himself in the mirror and adjust his moral compass. 

Please also read: 20 Players Poised to Star at Euro 2012.