Manchester City have accused the BBC of scaremongering and demanded that the broadcaster apologises to Benjani Mwaruwari after claims that the Zimbabwe striker could be banned from playing in Britain.

The BBC's Inside Sport programme on Monday evening said that the option of banning Zimbabwean athletes from competing in Britain is being discussed as part of a strategy to put pressure on Robert Mugabe's regime. Benjani, who joined City from Portsmouth for an initial £3.87 million during the January transfer window, was named on BBC website and radio reports as being one player who could be affected.

The suggestion drew a furious response from the Barclays Premier League club. In a strongly worded statement on City's website, Paul Tyrrell, the club's director of communications, said: “This is the worst type of scare story which shows a lack of editorial integrity from the programme-makers. Although we are pleased that the BBC have been quickly distancing themselves from the claim regarding Benjani, it is important to make the position crystal clear regarding his ability to live and work in the UK.

“The player last month received a 3½-year work permit from the Home Office to play for Manchester City. We have been assured work permits are non-negotiable. The programme-makers and the BBC should apologise to the player immediately.”

A BBC spokesman said: “Inside Sport reported a legitimate story. At no time did Inside Sport report Benjani would be affected as they were fully aware he had a valid 3-year work permit, which cannot be revoked. Unfortunately, Benjani was included in a website report. Any reference has now been taken from the website.”

Although the Government is considering preventing the Zimbabwe cricket team from touring England next summer, a blanket ban on athletes from the southern African country would be a controversial move. Gordon Brown is eager to take a tough stance against President Mugabe, but the Government has indicated that it will wait until the outcome of Zimbabwe's general election, which is due to be held this month, and the ICC's inquiry into allegations of corruption within the Zimbabwe Cricket Union before making a decision.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: “Our position hasn't changed and no decisions have been taken, though the matter of cricket tours with Zimbabwe is under review. We are keeping in close contact with the ECB on the matter. While there are currently no sporting sanctions on Zimbabwe, we should not let international sport become a propaganda tool for dictators.”

Sven-Göran Eriksson, the City manager, has urged Elano to toughen up after the Brazil playmaker limped out of the goalless draw at home to Wigan Athletic on Saturday in the wake of a heavy challenge by Michael Brown. The Wigan midfield player was booked for the foul, but while Gelson Fernandes, the City midfield player, has pleaded with referees to offer Elano and the game's other “creative” players greater protection, Eriksson believes that the Brazilian must accept that physical treatment by opponents is part and parcel of playing in the Premier League.

Elano has struggled to recapture the excellent form he showed for City early in the season and has had to contend with a number of injuries. “Sides make sure they stay close to him,” Eriksson said, “and the treatment they give him is not the nicest, but it's another thing that both the team and Elano himself have to live with because he is too good a player to be left alone.

“He took a knock from Brown in the first half, then when he tried a diagonal ball in the second half he felt a muscle pushing a little bit. We don't know how bad it is, but the muscle has not 'gone' as such so it's not a serious injury.”