Liverpool are under mounting pressure to kick out Luis Suarez after he bit Branislav Ivanovic in his side’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea.

Though Suarez used his Twitter account to apologise for the extraordinary incident and also issued a statement on the Liverpool website, he is fighting to save his Anfield career after manager Brendan Rodgers said ‘all players can be replaced’.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre cancelled a trip to Australia and the Far East to deal with an incident that has been condemned globally.

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Bite: Millions of fans around the world watched on TV as controversial Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 26, sank his teeth into the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during the clubs' 2-2 draw

Ayre said: ‘Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions. His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down. We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.’

Suarez has a history of shocking behaviour and was banned for seven matches in November 2011 after he bit PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal when playing for Ajax.

He was dubbed ‘the Cannibal of Ajax’ by Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Suarez said last night: I am deeply sorry for my inexcusable behaviour earlier today during our match against Chelsea.  I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally. I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at  Liverpool Football Club for letting them down.’.

Preparing to lunge: Suarez grabs Ivanovic's arm before appearing to bite it during yesterday's match

'Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions. His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down. We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.'

While Suarez said in an interview on Sunday he wanted to see out his four-year contract at Anfield, it looks increasingly likely he will be offloaded in the summer. Bayern Munich have been strongly linked with him.

Rodgers, who initially refused to comment on the situation, said in a statement: ‘Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this.’

The incident, which will be studied by the FA, overshadowed an intriguing game and marred an emotional return to Anfield for interim Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez. He refused to comment about the bite.

Former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness, working on Sky with Sportsmail’s Jamie Redknapp, was more forthright, and called the episode embarrassing.

BRENDAN RODGERS STATEMENT

'Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this.'

‘A club’s board of directors’ job is to attract and get the best players and keep them at the club.

'He is making it very difficult for himself to stay at Liverpool. I believe that puts him in the last-chance saloon. More important than any of that is to safeguard the good name of the club.

Confrontation: The Chelsea star made no secret of his unhappiness over the incident with the Liverpool man

‘It is up there with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United.

'People will be talking about this for a long, long time and it’s going to show Liverpool in a very bad light — especially in this week of all weeks, the anniversary of Hillsborough.

'If you look at Suarez’s track record, this is not the first time he has bitten someone in a football match. It can’t happen again.

'I firmly believe this puts him in the last chance saloon as a Liverpool player - the board have to see it that way because they're risking everything this great football club stands for.'

Suarez is a contender for PFA Player of the Year but their chief executive, Gordon Taylor, said: ‘It was not good to see, to say the least. It was unacceptable.

'It’s such a shame for a player who’s a really good footballer but this is not the first time such things have happened.’

Crazy: The Chelsea defender appeared to have done very little to provoke Suarez before the incident yesterday

Rivals: Chelsea were seconds from an impressive win at Anfield before Suarez scored a very late equaliser

In addition to threatening to undermine what has been a promising season for Liverpool, Suarez makes his case to win the PFA Footballer of the Year, for which he is nominated, even more difficult with every instant of his reckless behaviour.

Suarez had already played a big role in giving Chelsea the lead with a blatant handball that led to Eden Hazard's 57th minute penalty. The controversial incident then came within the next 10 minutes.

Earlier this season, Suarez appeared to handle the winning goal in the FA Cup against minnows Mansfield.

He also admitted to diving against Stoke CIty.

Look, ref: Ivanovic shows his arm to referee Kevin Friend following the biting incident at Anfield yesterday

Stunned: The Chelsea defender didn't seem to know how to react after he was bitten by Suarez yesterday

Last season, he was given an eight-match ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

And at the 2010 World Cup, he was famously sent off after blatantly using his hands to prevent an important goal for Ghana against Uruguay in the tournament's quarter-finals.

Liverpool boss Rodgers insisted he would have to review the incident before commenting, but added that no individual was bigger than the club. He said : 'I'll go away and review it and then comment later. I'll make an honest appraisal on it and comment afterwards. It's not for me to make any rash comments or predictions now.

'This is a club with incredible values and ethics here. We'll review it as a club, because there's certainly no one bigger than this football club, a player or manager.

'As football managers and staff and players, we're representing this club, off the field and in particular on the field.

'But it's not the time to comment on it now.'

Present and past: Brendan Rodgers and Rafa Benitez shared the same Anfield touchline during the game

He added: 'I'll always speak openly and honestly about the players and protect them when I can, but with all due respect I'll make an honest appraisal of it [first].

'I'll always defend people if I think they're right - if I think they're wrong I'll tell them, and that's already happened with Luis this year. And then we move on from it. If that's what the case is, they've got to accept the consequences accordingly.

'It's disappointing that we're not talking about the football, because the character and personality we showed in the game was absolutely fantastic.

'We'll go away and speak to them (owners Fenway Sports Group) afterwards and take it from there.
'This is a club with incredible values and ethics here. As footballers, managers and staff we are representing this great club on and off the field.

'I will always speak openly and honestly about the players and protect them when I can and if I think they are wrong I will tell them - as I have already this season with Luis (when the striker admitted to diving).

'People have to accept it when they do wrong if that's what the case is. They have to accept the consequences accordingly. It's disappointing that we are not talking about the football.'

Out of nowhere: The incident happened after Suarez had already handballed just 10 minutes earlier

Chelsea manager and former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez said: 'I thought it was an emotional return,' said the Spaniard, whose name was frequently chanted by fans who remember him fondly for the 2005 Champions League triumph.

'I was pleased with the reception of the fans and disappointed with the late goal conceded - especially as I couldn't understand why there were six minutes and 45 seconds (added on).

'It is a strange decision. Some games you have six substitutions and they say three or four minutes but six minutes (had expired) and with a throw-in for us the game was over.

'But six minutes and 45 seconds is difficult to explain. We need to analyse why we didn't stop the cross and they scored but in the normal circumstances we would have finished the game.

World Cup 2010: Cynically preventing a Ghana goal

Handball: Suarez's goal against Mansfield

'I didn't see the incident that people are asking me about. I have not spoken to the players (about Suarez). We were talking about the late goal - it is very frustrating. 'We have plenty of time in the week to speak about it.'

The forward was last seen getting escorted out of the ground by a club steward with a Chelsea shirt in his hand.

Souness added: 'Liverpool are not blessed with world-class footballers at this time, and he is genuinely a world-class player, but he's making it very difficult for them to hold on to him.

'I've never seen anything like that in a football match before. That's what children do when they are in the pram, they bite things if they are not happy with it.

'He must be on the borderline of doing something mad, crazy every time he goes out there if he is capable of that.'

Pain: Ivanovic could not believe what had happened as he sat on the ground for a moment after the bite

'It is not for me to make any rash comments or any predictions now,' he added. 'This is a football club where historically players treat people with how the football club respects society, players and everyone.

'There is certainly no-one bigger than this football club, as a player or a manager.

'Players are always replaceable no matter how good they think they are. That is how football works.

Previous: Suarez bites Otman Bakkal of PSV while playing for Ajax

Repeat? The PSV star was as perplexed as Ivanovic by Suarez's behaviour

'Of course there are wonderful talents here we've seen at this club and others over many years.

'You lose a player you think you can't replace but the next one comes along.

'The standards at this football club have been met for many years and that's why it is the worldwide institution that it is.

'The history of this club is about respect and how people are treated and that is something that will always be maintained here and will always be long after I am gone.'

Talisman: Alongside Steven Gerrard, Suarez is considered Liverpool's key player

Former Liverpool midfielder Redknapp said what Suarez did was 'indefensible'.

He told Sky Sports 1 'He got a seven-game ban at Ajax for doing the same thing. He obviously has a real problem.

'There is that madness-genius gene in him because as a player, you hold your hands up - he's exceptional with people talking about him being player of the year, but what he did today, is indefensible.

'Even the staunchest Liverpool supporters cannot look at that and think that's alright.

'You can't defend that and anyone who tries to is completely wrong, because the club is bigger than any player who has been on the football field.

97th minute: Suarez's equaliser couldn't have come much later in the game to get Liverpool a 2-2 draw

'What's he doing? Why on earth would you want to take a chunk out of someone's arm when you are on a football field?

'That is an absolutely incredible act of brutality. It's madness.'

Redknapp also believes Suarez should face a sizeable suspension.

He said: 'I'd be surprised if he plays again this season. What message does will that send if he doesn't get a two or three-game ban.

'He's letting the club down.'

Key: Chelsea will be aggrieved that Suarez was still on the pitch when he scored late on in yesterday's game

Regarding the Uruguayan's long-term future at Anfield, Redknapp said: 'He's giving the owners a problem.

'It's such a shame because he's playing for such a great football club. How many more chances are you going to give him?

'I wouldn't be surprised if he's still here (next season). I wouldn't think that's the end of him at Liverpool football club.

'It's not the first time now but footballers are valuable commodities, they certainly aren't going to sack him for that, the only thing maybe is they will sell him in the summer as they think it's one time too many now.'

Concern: Suarez didn't look particularly happy on his departure from Anfield, accompanied by a steward

Souvenir? But he did have a Chelsea shirt to mark the day, after helping his side to a dramatic 2-2 draw

Suarez bit Ivanovic on the arm midway through the second half of the match, which saw the controversial Uruguayan forward score in the 97th minute to snatch Liverpool a point.

Suarez has spoken to Ivanovic and apologised, but Ayre as well as Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers have spoken out condemning their striker's actions.

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Horrific: Liverpool's Luis Suarez sinks his teeth into Branislav Ivanovic

Preparing to lunge: Suarez grabs Ivanovic's arm before appearing to bite it during yesterday's match

'I am deeply sorry for my inexcusable behaviour earlier today during our match against Chelsea.

'I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanovic to speak to him personally. I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down.'

Suarez also took to his Twitter profile to say sorry to the Chelsea defender, posting: 'I'm sad for what happened this afternoon, I apologize Ivanovic and all football world for my inexcusable behaviour. I'm so sorry about it!!'

He later added: 'I've just spoken to Ivanovic on the phone and I could apologise directly to him. Thanks for accepting.'

Anger: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers voiced his displeasure at Suarez, who will face a club sanction

While he is waiting on the FA's reaction to the incident and any punishment he will face from the game's governing body, he will be hit with disciplinary action from his club.

'Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions today,' said managing director Ayre.

'His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.

'We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.'

Equaliser: Suarez celebrates after netting a last-gasp leveller, but all focus is on his bite on Ivanovic

Rodgers, who refused to comment on the incident after the match, also voiced his concern at his top scorer's actions.

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'Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this,' he said.

The incident came with Chelsea leading 2-1 after Eden Hazard's penalty regained the Blues' lead following Oscar's first-half opener and an equaliser from Daniel Sturridge, who also could have seen red for a late tackle on Ryan Bertrand.

I'm sorry: Suarez Tweeted to apologise for biting Ivanovic, before revealing he spoke to him (below)

Daily Mail

It took a hug from his father and a flashback for Craig Bellamy to realise the full scale of what he and his Cardiff City team-mates had achieved on Tuesday night.

He doesn't have the psychological scars of some in that dressing room - people like Peter Whittingham and Kevin McNaughton who played for Cardiff in finals of the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Championship play-offs and lost each of them.

Neither was he involved in last season's play-off semi-final disappointment.

Glory: Craig Bellamy has been a Cardiff fan since he was a young boy

Deserved: Bellamy indulges himself with some champagne after Cardiff secured promotion

Nervy: Cardiff drew against Charlton, but it was enough to see them in the top flight

But he was there at Ninian Park and countless other grounds as a young City fan with his dad, Doug, trying to figure out how it could get any worse for a team flapping around in the bottom two divisions.

Those conversations came into his mind when his father appeared with his arms outstretched at the end of the 0-0 draw with Charlton that made promotion to the Premier League a certainty.

It was a result and outcome that left Bellamy on his knees in tears and his employer, Vincent Tan, making promises of a £25million transfer budget ahead of Cardiff 's first top-flight campaign for 51 years.

Mentor: Bellamy also praised Cardiff manager Malky Mackay for his contribution this season

Five years ago Cardiff were beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.

'To have people I truly love around me to share this with - it was emotional,' said Bellamy. 'To see my dad afterwards, after all the heartache he has been through over the years. I have lost count of how many games I used to go to with him on a Tuesday night against some team.

'He'd pull me to the side and we'd leave 10 minutes before the end, saying we would never go back. Then on the Saturday we would be there again.

'For him to see us go to the Premier League and for his son to play a part in that makes it even more special. It hit home to me a little bit. He said he will die a happy man.'

Bellamy added: 'I am grateful to have played a small part in this club's future and past.'

Yet there has been nothing small about the part Bellamy has played in this remarkable campaign in which promotion has been secured with three games remaining.

He has not stood out from the rest, in words or deeds, quite as much as when he arrived for a season on loan from Manchester City in 2010. But his impact on the group in his second coming has been profound. 'Everyone looks up to him,' Whittingham told Sportsmail recently.

Job done: Rudy Gestede and Craig Noone celebrate Cardiff's promotion to the Premier League

'He is always trying to help, talking to the younger lads to help them get the best out of themselves. He hasn't been as loud as we were expecting, but he has just spread this attitude of determination. He has brought so, so much, as a player and a person.

'Everyone in this squad has been on a bit of a mission to get promoted this season.'

Much of that drive has come from Malky Mackay, a manager of great intensity who has become a kindred spirit of sorts for Bellamy.

Some people are on the pitch: Cardiff fans celebrate on the pitch saying goodbye to the Football League Show and welcoming being on Match of the Day

'He has been immense,' said Bellamy. 'His professionalism, his expectations of us as a group, the way he has grasped the city. We are a different breed down here. This is where I am from. We are intense, wear our heart on our sleeve and he has taken that on board.

'We have taken to him and the club have taken to him. He has really pushed us forward.'

Bellamy added: 'It has been so many years since this club was in the top flight. Everyone has been so desperate for it. We understood that as players. We have a hardworking group of boys who will do anything for each other. They will do anything to get a result.

'It makes it so special to be with this group of players to achieve that. I didn't really feel for one minute that we wouldn't. Even after a setback Monday at training was the same - an honest group who were positive and wanted to work hard for one another.

'The manager has instilled that in the players he has brought in. It has been a joy to be around and to be involved and achieve that goal of promotion is great for them as well. It's exciting to see what comes next.'

Riding a wave: Leon Barnett is carried by fans after winning promotion

To that end, the eccentric owner, Tan, has already stated his intentions. It will come as a relief to some that he has abandoned his plans to change the club's name to something with a dragon theme and has since suggested Mackay will have money to spend in the summer.

'We need to strategise well and we'd like to spend some money - maybe £20m to £25m,' said Tan. 'Others have spent a big amount of money and not done well, so we will try to spend smartly.'

Early indications suggest a striker is on the cards - none of the squad have reached double digits for goals this season - and defensive cover is also needed.

Bellamy, 33, expressed a tongue-in-cheek hope that Cardiff don't look too closely at alternative left wingers. His place, in the team and the club's history, should be fairly secure.

Eccentric: Vincent Tan celebrated on the pitch with the players after the Charlton match

Chelsea are understood to have spoken to an adviser close to Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini about taking over in the summer, although Jose Mourinho remains the favourite to return to Stamford Bridge.

The Premier League club met with Pellegrini’s representative in Paris last Friday as they sounded out the 59-year-old’s interest in succeeding interim manager Rafa Benitez.

The majority of the Chelsea board are still backing Mourinho’s appointment, but owner Roman Abramovich is understood to have slight doubts, particularly with regard to the Real Madrid manager’s exorbitant wage demands.

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Head to head: Jose Mourinho (left) remains favourite to return to Chelsea but Manuel Pellegrini has held talks

The Russian also favours waiting until Chelsea clinch a place in next year’s Champions League before making a formal offer to the club’s preferred candidate.

Pelligrini, who took Malaga to the quarter-finals of this year’s Champions League, has long been admired by Chelsea, who have also considered Everton boss David Moyes.

The former Villarreal and Real Madrid manager is out of contract in Spain at the end of next season, but his current deal includes a £3.4m buy-out clause, while the lure of guaranteed Champions League football would be significant.

Heading for the exit: Rafa Benitez will leave Chelsea at the end of the season

Malaga have been given a one-year ban from Uefa competition owing to financial irregularities, but have appealed and will take the case the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the summer.

The Chilean, who speaks good English despite having never managed a team outside a Spanish-speaking country, would also command a significantly lower wage than Mourinho, at around £5million a year.

Yet, despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Mourinho remains in pole position to return to the club he left in 2007, although Champions League football and more control over transfer policy are two key requirements.

Marching: Chelsea beat Fulham to put them in pole position for a top-four finish

The Real Madrid boss this week gave his clearest indication yet that he will leave the nine-time European champions when he reportedly told a group of youth-team coaches that he will not be at the club next season.

Roberto Mancini's side look set to lose their Premier League title to city rivals Manchester United and flopped in Europe - finishing bottom of their Champions League group.

Vieira, City's football development executive, admitted the season has been a poor one but said victory over Wigan on May 11 at Wembley, which would be their second cup success in three years, could help ease the painful memories of this campaign.

Target: Patrick Viera, seen here playing in 2010, says Manchester City must win the FA Cup this season

He said: 'Has this season been a success? No. The aim this season was to retain the title and do better in the Champions League so, no, you can’t say our season was a success.

'We’re in the Cup Final so that’s a good way of saving the season.

'But we had a team you’d expect to do better. We could have done better.'

Euro woes: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring in the 3-2 win over Manchester City this season

Wembley glory: Carlos Tevez lifts the FA Cup for Manchester City after they beat Stoke in the 2011 final

Vieira, who made 32 appearances for City after signing on a free from Inter in 2010, also refused to rule out selling Samir Nasri to French big spenders Paris Saint-Germain, though he did insist the champions would like to retain his services.

French midfielder Nasri, 25, has come under fire from a frustrated Mancini for his inconsistency this season and has only recently returned to the starting XI.

PSG declared their interest in the French international but the 36-year-old said City want to keep him at the Etihad Stadium next season.

Inconsistent: Manchester City's Samir Nasri has endured a frustrating season

New role off the pitch: Patrick Vieira is Manchester City's football development executive

Vieira told Radio Monte Carlo: 'Samir could have done better.

'I think, he, himself, is disappointed with the level he played at for several different reasons.

'But in the end, he remains an important player for us.

'I see him almost daily. I think he’s learned a lot this year. He’s faced competition and, when he wasn’t good enough, he’s been taken off. It’s been an important season for him and I’m sure he’ll come back even stronger.

'I hope he will stay. Time will tell. It’s important to build a team on the long term.

'Samir is a very good player, a young player and I hope he’ll stay with us for a long time.'

Usain Bolt has confirmed he will compete in the London Anniversary Games in the Olympic Stadium in July.

The Jamaican won three gold medals in the London Olympics last year - in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay - and will look to recreate his 100m success on the first day on Friday July 26 before resuming his place in the Jamaican relay team the following evening.

Bolt will be one of twelve Olympic champions taking part in the three-day event, which is part of the IAAF Diamond League Series. It will be Bolt's first appearance in a Diamond League meeting in London since 2009.

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One year on: Bolt, celebrating his 100m gold last year, will take part in the London Anniversary Games in July

Lightning quick: Bolt will run in the 100m on July 26 before teaming up with Jamaica for the 4x100m relay

He will join British heroes Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Greg Rutherford in recreating the 2012 Games on the one-year anniversary of the opening ceremony.

Ennis will double up in the 100m hurdles and long jump, Farah will run the 3,000m and Rutherford will compete in the long jump.

Bolt revealed his excitement at the prospect of competing in London again, saying: 'I’m looking forward to coming back to the UK, especially with it being a year since winning three gold medals in the Olympic Stadium.

'The crowd were amazing at the Games, and I hope they will be out again in their numbers at the end of July.'

Podium: The anniversary games will see Bolt (right) reunite with fellow Olympic champion Mo Farah (left)

The news comes after UK Athletics revealed Oscar Pistorius would not be welcome at the event, as they did not want it turning into a media circus with the South African facing a murder charge.

Kim Collins, who missed last summer's Olympics with injury, will also race in the 100m.

Yesterday, Anniversary Games organisers confirmed a host of British stars for the event, with the list headlined by Ennis, Farah and Rutherford.

Jonnie Peacock, Richard Whitehead, Mickey Bushell and Josie Pearson are among 14 of the 16 Paralympic medallists to have been confirmed for the IPC International Challenge on the Sunday.

Thumbs up: Jessica Ennis will also recreate her success by competing in the 100m hurdles and long jump

Daily Mail

For all the celebrations that greeted Carlos Tevez’s late goal at a previously subdued Etihad Stadium last night, it may ultimately mean more at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League than at the top.

Some goal it was, Tevez wriggling between two Wigan defenders on the edge of the penalty area and curling a right-footed shot into the corner of the goal. Wigan goalkeeper Joel  Robles would have been expecting the ball to arrive to his left rather than whip devilishly past him high to his right.

For it to make any real difference to things at the top of the table, though, there need to be many more twists. Indeed, if City lose at Tottenham on Sunday and Manchester United beat Aston Villa at home the next day, the whole thing will be over.

Scroll down to watch highlights from the Etihad...

Saviour: Carlos Tevez scored the only goal as City beat Wigan 1-0 at the Etihad

Meeting of minds: Roberto Martinez (right) and Roberto Mancini watch as their sides go head to head

At the other end of the table, though, Wigan may yet rue the events of last night. As peculiar as it may sound, this was a game Roberto  Martinez’s team really should have won. Certainly they should not have lost and we will wait to discover how important that turns out to be.

With both these teams arriving from weekend FA Cup semi-finals and due to meet each other in next month’s final, this always had the feeling of a peculiar night. City could not cope with the quick turnaround from their defeat of Chelsea on  Sunday and were, by and large, pretty wretched.

Before Tevez struck in the 83rd minute, Roberto Mancini’s team had not created a worthwhile chance. It had been a performance as poor as anything seen at the Etihad in Mancini’s three years or so in charge.

Wigan, on the other hand, seemed to cope with the comedown from Wembley much better. They had enjoyed a day longer to rest but maybe the relative energy of their performance was more reflective of how great their need is down in the relegation zone.

Job done: Joe Hart gives a thumbs up to the Manchester City supporters after a difficult evening

Shake on it? Paul Scharner of Wigan Athletic extends a hand to Carlos Tevez (right)

Tumble: Samir Nasri flies over the top of Antolin Alcaraz (bottom) in the first half of the match

Rough and tumble: Vincent Kompany (right) challenges Wigan striker Franco Di Santo

PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

 

It is usually at this time of year that Wigan come alive. Certainly there have been signs in wins over Newcastle and Norwich and a late draw at Queens Park Rangers that Martinez’s players are readying themselves for another late push.

Here, though, they couldn’t  convert the chances they created and that proved crucial.

For half an hour of this game, nothing really happened. That is not an exaggeration either. City were sleepwalking through the match and their opponents looked only half awake. Even news of a goal for West Ham at home to United — revealed by the Etihad’s giant scoreboard — didn’t bring any impetus to the night.

Finally — happily — Wigan came to life. Much later on, City followed.

Indeed Wigan would have led at the break had it not been for Joe Hart. City’s England goalkeeper was left out of Sunday’s semi-final and has already been told he will not play at Wembley next month. Here, though, he showed the depth of his quality, sprawling to his left in the 37th minute to deny Franco Di Santo when the Wigan striker seemed set to give his team the lead.

City briefly rallied, Tevez hurtling down the right to cross low for Sergio Aguero. Had Sunday’s  winning goalscorer been an inch longer in the leg he would have prodded his team into the lead.

Gutted: James McCarthy (left) and James McArthur look unhappy after Tevez struck

As it was, Aguero didn’t reappear after the break. Bosnia forward Edin Dzeko took his place but didn’t see much of the ball for a while as Wigan enjoyed a purple patch during the first 20 minutes of the second period.

The talented Arouna Kone was one Wigan player to show, driving one shot wastefully wide after driving hard down the middle of the field then finding himself foiled by a lunging tackle from Vincent Kompany when he seemed set to score from seven yards.

Prior to that, Shaun Maloney — enjoying another fine game for Wigan — had beaten Hart with a low right-foot shot, only to see Joleon Lescott hack the ball clear off the line.

Equal to it: Wigan keeper Joel ensures Edin Dzeko (right) cannot break the deadlock at the Etihad

No cigar: Sergio Aguero fails to convert a rare City chance in the opening half

No 1: Joe Hart (centre) denied Franco Di Santo (left) in the first period at the Etihad

World class: Hart gets down to his left to make a sensational stop from his opponent

At this stage, the chances reflected the game. With key  players like Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry unrecognisable from the weekend, City could not keep  possession long enough to gather any momentum.

Eventually — belatedly — a spell of City pressure did arrive. Dzeko was denied by Robles after a heavy first touch gave the Wigan goalkeeper the chance to narrow the angle before Tevez produced a moment that really was special to win the game.

Martinez was still phlegmatic afterwards. He knows how fine the margins are.

Nevertheless, anxious days remain.

Gotcha: Aleksandar Kolarov (left) manages to nick the ball off the Argentinean hitman

Bullet: Kolarov blasts a left-footed effort from the left-back position

ETIHAD MATCH ZONE

Andre Marriner will referee the FA Cup final on May 11. It will be his third match at Wembley, after taking charge of Blackpool’s Championship play-off final win over Cardiff in 2010 and the Community Shield between Manchester United and Chelsea later that year.

Marriner said: ‘It’s a great honour to be asked to referee the 2013 FA Cup final, especially as it coincides with the 150th anniversary of the Football Association.’

The FA have defended the 5.15pm kick-off time for this year’s FA Cup final after suggestions it could leave Manchester City and Wigan fans stranded in London.

Virgin Trains warned that kicking off at that time would make it hard for supporters to return from Wembley. But the FA do not believe it will cause widespread disruption. An FA statement read: ‘The FA would like to highlight that 5.15pm is a regular kick-off time in the football calendar.

A small percentage of Cup final fans use train travel. The kick-off time is unchanged from last year and this allows more fans around the country to watch the final in its entirety.’

GAMES TO GO...

MANCHESTER CITY

Tottenham (a) Sun April 21

West Ham United (h) Sat April 27

Swansea (a) Sat May 4

West Brom (h) Tuesday May 7

Reading (a) Tue May 14

Norwich (h) Sun May 19

WIGAN

West Ham (a) Sat April 20

Tottenham (h) Sat April 27

West Brom (a) Sat May 4

Swansea (h) Tue May 7

Arsenal (a) Tue May 14

Aston Villa (h) Sun May 19

Daily Mail

Police have charged two men following the disorder that marred the FA Cup semi-final between Millwall and Wigan.

Officers from the Met Police made 14 arrests after violence erupted during Saturday's match, which Wigan won 2-0, at Wembley – 12 were Millwall supporters, two were Wigan fans – as part of Operation Arrowtip.

Terance Cape, 43, of South London was charged with racially aggravated behaviour under section 4 of the Public Order Act. He will appear on bail at Hendon Magistrates Court on May 1.

Richard Freedman, 53, of Cambridgeshire appeared in custody yesterday having breached bail conditions.

Flashpoint: Police clash with fans during the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley

The Met Police are still pursuing a number of lines of inquiry and have promised there will be a 'significant post-match review', while further investigations will take place to identify those responsible for committing offences.

DCI Andy Barnes, who is in charge of the review and investigation said: ‘The violence seen at the Millwall v Wigan FA Cup fixture over the weekend is completely unacceptable. The Metropolitan Police is committed to working with its partners in bringing those responsible to justice.

'A significant investigation is now underway to identify all involved in order to bring them to justice in a swift and robust manner.'

Wembley way: Wigan beat Millwall 2-0 to reach FA Cup final

Other arrests made included a 15-year-old boy for suspicion of ticket touting, while a 24-year-old man from South London was arrested on suspicion of theft, possession of a Class B drug and possession of an offensive weapon.

There had been pockets of disorder in and around Wembley Stadium before the main fighting took place between Millwall fans towards the end of the game. The sickening scenes, which were beamed around the world, have been widely condemned.

Wayne Rooney wants to open talks about a new Manchester United contract this summer after telling friends he has no desire to leave Old Trafford for Paris St Germain.

The United striker is baffled by suggestions from a former PSG advisor in France yesterday that a deal with the wealthy Paris club was already in place.

Instead, it is understood that the 27-year-old wants to sit down with United at the end of this season and discuss an extension to a contract that will by then have two years to run.

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Will he stay or will he go: Wayne Rooney wants to stay at Old Trafford but is reported to be a target for PSG

Negotiations with the soon-to-be-crowned Barclays Premier League champions are likely to be lengthy and complicated.

Rooney will no doubt wish to remain on the same wage that he agreed when signing a deal worth in excess of £200,000-a-week in October 2010 while United will initially offer the England star a lower basic with a greater proportion of performance-related pay.

Nevertheless, with both sides keen to agree a new deal it would seem that Rooney’s future will only lie away from United in the unlikely event of United and his advisors simply not reaching a compromise.

Heading for the exit? Rooney has been a Manchester United player since leaving Everton in 2004

Rooney has had an up-and-down season at Old Trafford but has been in great form recently and is a lot happier with his situation that he was earlier in the campaign.

United did not wish to comment on the issue but it is understood that they are not concerned about claims in France by former PSG advisor Michel Moulin that a deal for Rooney is 'done'.

Title winning strikers: Robin van Persie and Rooney look certain to have helped Manchesster United regain the Premier League title

Moulin - who worked for PSG briefly in 2008 - said on French TV: “I announce to you from trusted sources: Rooney to PSG is done.

'He will be at PSG next season.'

Keen to stay: Rooney wants to remain at Manchester United

In France, Moulin is is considered to be trying to garner publicity for his media outlet Le Sport 10.
PSG’s Qatari owners do have a genuine interest in Rooney but do not think United would sell him, particularly to a Champions League rival.

Rooney has been linked with the French club constantly in recent weeks, with players Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva urging him to join them in Paris.

And now the Belgian model has made her mark with a new tattoo displaying her love for the Italian striker.

Love it: Fanny Neguesh shows off her new tattoo

Fanny Neguesh

Neguesha had a message engraved on her inner arm at the famed Spektrum Tattoo in Milan.

The 22-year-old, who also has an Africa-shaped tattoo on her neck, was accompanied by her boyfriend.

Balotelli’s time at Manchester City was consumed by controversy and fallings-out with boss Roberto Mancini, but his £19million switch back to Italy has been a rousing success.

But he has scored seven goals in eight appearances for the Rossoneri.

Happy couple: Neguesh and Mario Balotelli

Hot shot: Balotelli has scored seven times in eight appearances for Milan