BLUES IN FIGHT TO END HORROR TACKLES

CITY are to spearhead a campaign aimed at ending football’s plague of bad tackles.

And top of their hit-list will be the outdated rule which protects yellow-carded players from having their offences reviewed by the FA’s video panel.

The Blues have written to Mike Riley, head of the referees body PGMOL, to seek a meeting after a rash of dangerous challenges, one of which has seen Leroy Sane out for seven weeks with ankle ligament damage.

Manager Pep Guardiola is keen to meet with Riley to discuss the matter, and the club has stressed that this is an attempt to get better protection for ALL players, not just those in sky blue.

Guardiola has been furious over a series of dangerous challenges aimed at Kevin de Bruyne, Sane and Brahim Diaz in recent weeks, and several of his players have joined him in calling for greater protection.

The City boss fears it is only a matter of time before a player’s career is ended by a bad tackle.

As a first step, City will ask PGMOL for a meeting – Guardiola is keen to attend personally, but City would be represented by football director Txiki Begiristain and chief operating office Omar Berrada. The Blues may also bring former referee Mark Halsey on board as an adviser.

If they get a positive response, City will then speak to the FA and other clubs in a bid to gain support for a possible campaign.

City special: Pages 45-47