Bristol City



SPORT
Bristol City write to every Championship club to explain controversial decision
The club wish to make it clear that there is something they will not be doing this season



Bristol City have sent an email to clubs in the Championship to tell them they will not kick the ball out of play this season unless an opposition player has suffered a serious head injury.

The club felt this necessary following an incident which occurred during their 3-1 loss to Leeds on Sunday in which there was a confrontation on the touchline after the Robins didn't put the ball out when Leeds player Mateusz Klich went down.


Leeds also caused a hugely controversial moment last season when they scored against Aston Villa after failing to put the ball out while Villa's Jonathan Kodjia was injured, something which eventually led Leeds to allow Villa to score an equalizer unchallenged.



Bristol City clearly feel they would rather make their position on the matter clear early on in the season, and head coach Lee Johnson revealed the news about the emails in his press conference after the defeat to Leeds.


"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.


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

There was controversy in the match between Leeds and Aston Villa last
By the letter of the law there is no obligation for players to kick the ball out of play if an opposition player goes down unless it is for a head injury.

There are sometimes cases, however, when players decide it is the correct thing to do in the spirit of sportsmanship, with one of the most famous examples being ex-West Ham player Paolo Di Canio deciding to catch the ball rather than score into an empty net while Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was lying injured in the box.

Common sense at last, too many players feign injury, if you keep on playing then we can let the Ref ref.



 

Thanks.

I'm going to try pouring boiling water on my car.

 

Struggled to read much of that, but if they’re refusing to put the ball out of play then I cannot fault them. Players will persist with feigning injuries while ever other players kick the ball out of play.

 

I've taken out the useful tips now!

 

That's the gist of it. Will only put it out if there is a head injury . Little Lee sent an email to this effect.

 

Mmmm
Remember Hammill being (injured) in our penalty area against Scunthorpe last season and we went straight down and scored .
It should be left to the ref imo,

 

Good decision imho, hope all teams follow suit.

However, what will they do if one of their own players is injured? Ball straight out of play I would imagine. So the opposition should quickly take the throw in.

 

To be fair, we scored our goal against Fulham while they had a man down.

 

im sorry cant be having this. Bristol City have basically sent an email saying we are going to be nobheads about this. if a mans down injured just kick it out, doesn't take much to be the bigger man.

 

It’ll be interesting to see what Bristol do if their own player gets injured! Maybe all other clubs should reply to their email asking for clarification

 

As above, we scored our only goal on Saturday with one of their men down; would you be happier if we’d not been nobheads?

 

That's easy though with the dwarf in charge!

 

You mean him who climbed all over the back of our player and fell awkwardly due to his own stupidity and then feigned injury as a result?

 

he wasn't down injured that was plain for all to see. his team mates didn't complain and he got up quite quickly afterwards, to say he was down isn't the same as to say he was down injured and you are quite aware of the difference, no doubt you'll ask how did we know whether he was injured, i think its usually obvious and even so, the action of scoring a goal was only about 3 seconds after he fell over. The situation you are using to back up your argument is flawed.

 

What next.

An email from Bristol City to all championship clubs asking teams not to score against them.

 

So they are just reiterating the law and reminding clubs of it, fair play to them.

 

Cant do any harm us giving it a go?

 

Must keep the ball in the corridor of confusion or darn bomb alley, one or tother.

 

Whoever's written that article has made the extremely odd decision to cut the part of the quotation which seems to answer that exact question.

Although to be fair I don't really have a problem with a team only putting the ball out of play if it's their player - their possession, their choice. It's the possibility of forcing the other team to give up a potential goal scoring opportunity that's the problem.

 

Good point, all clubs should email back explaining if Bristol kick out so one of their players can receive treatment they won’t receive the ball back from the throw.

I think it’s the best all round tbh.