Johnson makes clear Robins will not be kicking ball out after row

BRISTOL City have emailed Cardiff City, Swansea City and every other Championship club to tell them they will not be kicking the ball out of this play this season unless a player has suffered a genuine head injury.

It comes after a controversial incident in the Robins’ 3-1 defeat to Leeds United on the opening day of the campaign.

Speaking to head coach Lee Johnson clarified the situation.

Johnson made the statement after a flashpoint at Ashton Gate which saw Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich go down with the Robins playing on.

Following some heated exchanges on the touchline, City finally gave in to knocking the ball out when Kasey Palmer appeared to throw it at the opposition bench in frustration.

Johnson said he spoke with Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa at half-time to clear the matter up.

“It’s fine. We sent an email out to the clubs because this happens often,” said Johnson.

“Somebody goes down and sometimes it’s tactical, because people try and gain an advantage and sometimes it’s genuine.

“So we just decided as a club that we’re going to make a rule for the 46 games that we’re going to let the referee manage the game.

“So therefore if that’s our player injured or the opposition player injured, there’s a consistency there.

“If the referee sees a head injury he will stop the game but if it’s not a head injury he will play on.

“And our players are coached to play with 10 men in certain environments. And that’s what I was trying to explain [to Bielsa].

“Obviously that’s not easy with the language barrier but in the cold light of day we were able to sit and talk it through.”

Johnson went on to play down the confrontations on the touchline after the incident, stating that almost any club would do the same if their player went down and the game carried on.