QPR skipper Joey Barton says Manchester City have only themselves to blame for the Carlos Tevez affair.

City boss Roberto Mancini suspended the striker for a maximum of two weeks after he allegedly ­refused to take the field as a sub.

Barton said: "It was only a ­matter of time before this was going to happen at Manchester City.

"You've 10 outfield places with 23 world-class players competing for them. It was only a matter of time before one of them threw the toys out of the pram.

"Unfortunately, this is where the game has gone. You have players ­demanding moves and saying, 'If you don't let me go, I'll not play'. It's like a soap opera.

"Thankfully it's nothing to do with my club."