[OldburyWBA]

Bristol City have written to all Championship clubs to state they will not kick the ball out of play unless an opposition player has suffered a serious head injury

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/bristol-city-write-every-championship-18837385

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."

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.

I hope all clubs start doing it, its pathetic when there is no reason to kick the ball.

[Atomic]

Good for them. I hope we follow suit. Really annoys me when a player goes down for next to nothing and we kick the ball out. Wants stopping.

[johnny Cash]

Does it also mean that if they kick the ball out for one of their own players, that you shouldn't give it back?

The cynic in me thinks its is only a matter of time before one of their players is down and dramatically holds their head though, despite it obviously not being a head injury.

[Dan87uk]

Good, I hope we follow suit

[skyclad99]

Fully support this andI hope we follow suit.

When a footballer is genuinely injured and goes down then it was the 'gentlemanly' thing to do, but as with every principle based on trust and honesty the cheats will exploit the situation to their own advantage.

Play to the whistle and let the ref run the game - well done Bristol.

[AlbionFan]

They are just stating that they will be following FIFA Rule 5, page 12 (in the link below) and allowing the referees to make the decision

https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/refereeing/law_5_the_referee_en_47411.pdf

[albion59]

Fair play I hope all clubs follow them and do the same.

[royhan]

Fair play I hope all clubs follow them and do the same.

The new rule makes sense. There is far too much play acting by players who have had the slightest knock. Show them cold water on a wintry day and they are up like a flash. As others have said, I hope we follow Bristol City's example.

[KN22]

I totally agree with this. Let the referee decide if and when to stop the game. Few things annoy me more than this at matches in recent years. Well done Bristol City.