Martin O'Neill has backed suggestions that referees be ordered to punish all two-footed challenges with red cards. Amid a brewing row over the interpretation of the laws governing tackling, which saw Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany dismissed in the FA Cup against Manchester United, but not Liverpool's Glen Johnson for a similar incident against City days later, the Sunderland manager has called for greater clarity.
"There's a bit of ambiguity about it, really, and what they are doing now is going to come down hard on two-footed challenges," said O'Neill. "At least if there is some sort of clarity about it, then that can only be good because people are a wee bit confused that some two-footed challenges are going unpunished and other ones are causing a bit of concern.
"I understand the referees having a bit of a problem over it, but in truth, if you are lunging in two-footed and your two feet are off of the ground, there's a fair chance if you come into contact with an opponent's ankle, you are going to cause problems. If that's the case, then so be it – I would agree with that.
"You may always get some sort of an example where you think that shouldn't be the case, but if you are going to run with it, the best thing to do is outlaw it and then we will be OK."