Tevez risks further punishment with trip to Argentina

Carlos Tevez could be in further trouble with Manchester City having flown to Argentina shortly before being due in for training.

It is understood that Tevez, who it emerged yesterday would not be appealing against City's ruling that he was guilty of misconduct in the Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich on September 27, returned to his native country on Monday night and is unlikely to make it back in time for training this morning.

A spokesman for City confirmed the 27-year-old striker had a day off yesterday and is scheduled to be at the club's Carrington training ground today.

City last month fined Tevez four weeks' wages, later reduced to two weeks following intervention by the Professional Footballers' Association, after a disciplinary panel found the former Manchester United man guilty of five breaches of contract relating to his behaviour on the bench during the match in Munich.

He was also suspended for two weeks - although that was deemed to have already been served - and given a written warning as to his future conduct.

The player was accused by manager Roberto Mancini of refusing to come on as a substitute during the second half of the 2-0 loss at the Allianz Arena, but Tevez denied the allegation and blamed a misunderstanding, insisting he had merely refused to warm up - something he felt unnecessary as he had already done so.

He was suspended for two weeks then began training alone while the matter was investigated, and on October 25 City announced they were upholding a charge of misconduct against him based on the panel's findings.

His future with City remains unclear, although Mancini had suggested Tevez - who was the club's top scorer and skipper last term as they won the FA Cup, but has fallen out of favour since his failed attempt to secure a transfer over the summer - could yet return to the team if he apologises.

Tevez has only made five appearances for City this season, with the last coming on September 21, and he has not been selected by Argentina for their World Cup qualifying double header during the current international break.