It was based on television pictures of Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook sharing a warm embrace before the Europa League match in Turin with someone the ESPN team presumed to be Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian.
Missing in action: Carlos Tevez and his agent Kia Joorabchian
This led to Ray Stubbs and Joe Royle dominating their studio chat with how the friendly meeting could only be good news on the Tevez front - as Joorabchian had publicly blamed Cook for the Argentina striker's turmoil.
Alas, Joorabchian was working in his central London office at the time, and Cook had in fact been laughing and joking with Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, who bears a passing resemblance to Joorabchian.
An ESPN spokesman said: 'It was unfortunately a case of mistaken identity during a live broadcast for which we apologised at the end.'
More from Charles Sale... Charles Sale: TV row on 'sale' of listed World Cup15/12/10 CHARLES SALE: Premier League clubs aim to collar extra shirt money14/12/10 Charles Sale: Plane speaking with Lord Coe cost Sir Keith Mills FA top job13/12/10 Charles Sale: Vauxhall step up international drive with £5million deal10/12/10 Charles Sale: Shane Warne heads for a right royal £3m playing in India09/12/10 Charles Sale: England's Ashes heroes can score more zeros in the IPL08/12/10 CHARLES SALE: FIFA hosts launch corruption probe after World Cup scandal07/12/10 CHARLES SALE: Thompson faces FIFA's 2018 liars again07/12/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE The welcome pack for FIFA's VIP visitors to the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi this week amply demonstrates the sensitivities around taking the World Cup to Qatar in 2022.
FIFA felt the need in their official literature to warn guests not to show any sign of affection in public, such as holding hands or kissing. This follows the storm over FIFA president Sepp Blatter's crass suggestion that gay people planning to go to the World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal, 'should refrain from any sexual activity'.
Despite the furore over the 2018 and 2022 World Cup decisions, it is still likely that Blatter will be re-elected unopposed next May for a further four-year term. None of four potential rivals - Michel Platini, Mohamed Bin Hammam, Ricardo Teixeira and Chung Mong-Joon - is showing signs of mounting a challenge.
Darts ringmaster Barry Hearn praised former Met Police Commissioner Lord Stevens at the start of the world championship for the work his Quest investigative firm are doing heading the sport's anti-corruption operation.
Hearn said: 'He's not cheap, but if you want the best you have to pay for it and, as the world's best-known policeman, his name brings instant respect and reassures all our backers.'
Hopefully, Hearn will receive better value for money than Quest's spectacularly unsuccessful football bungs inquiry that cost the Premier League more than £1.3million.
Even better in HDThe advent of Sky Sports Newsbeing broadcast in high definition seems to have coincided with their glamorous female presenters showing a lot more cleavage on air.
Viewers cite Georgie Thompson (right), wearing a sleeveless black cocktail dress yesterday and Charlotte Jackson as providing the greatest distraction from the sports news.
A Sky spokesman said it was network policy not to promote the women as eye candy, but they did have stylists to ensure their looks complemented those of their co-hosts.
Rose a thorn for Giles? England's fine start to the Ashes campaign hasn't stopped opponents of ECB chairman Giles Clarke looking for a credible candidate to stand against him in 2012. One industry heavy hitter understood to have been sounded out is Sir Stuart Rose, who steps down as chairman of Marks & Spencer next month. There are concerns, meanwhile, that Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, where the Cricket World Cup final will take place on April 2, will not be ready. The ICC also fear three tournament venues in Sri Lanka are way behind schedule..
It has emerged that Blackburn Rovers Indian owner Anuradha Desai was most instrumental in the sacking of manager Sam Allardyce despite having never watched a football match before her company, Venky's, bought the club.
Liverpool owners NESV are looking worldwide for a chief executive. But two candidates closer to home have emerged in Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and Anfield commercial director Ian Ayre.
Explore more:People: Giles Clarke, Sepp Blatter, Stuart Rose, Sam Allardyce, Joe Royle Places: Liverpool, Mumbai, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Qatar, United Kingdom
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail