- Pep Guardiola has slammed referee Lee Mason for not looking after his players
- Leroy Sane picked up an injury in his side’s full-blooded FA Cup tie with Cardiff
- The German was mercilessly hacked down by Joe Bennett in the first-half
- Guardiola has revealed that Sane will now be sidelined for the near future
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has slammed referee Lee Mason after he revealed winger Leroy Sane picked up an injury in his side’s full-blooded FA Cup tie with Cardiff.
Towards the end of the first half, Sane launched a blistering counter attack that came to a sudden halt when he was hacked down by Cardiff’s Joe Bennett.
Replays showed the tackle was high and reckless and the impact forced the German’s ankle to roll in uncomfortable fashion as Bennett escaped with only a yellow card.
Further enraging Guardiola, the defender then lunged in on substitute Brahim Diaz in the closing moments but this time received his marching orders.
Pep Guardiola has slammed referee Lee Mason after his side’s physical FA Cup tie with Cardiff
Guardiola revealed winger Leroy Sane picked up an injury after Joe Bennett’s heinous tackle
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Spaniard revealed that Sane will now be sidelined for the near future.
‘He will be out for a while, a few weeks or months, we will see,’ said Guardiola, who berated Mason on the pitch at full-time.
‘It’s difficult for every team to win this kind of game. I know my players, it was many.
‘Any team can play how they want but the referee must decide what is correct or incorrect. I just ask that he protects the players.
‘All I ask is that the referee protects the players, not the Man City players, just the players. That’s all I ask from the people in football, please.’
Replays showed the tackle was high and reckless and forced the German’s ankle to roll
Bennett received a yellow but then saw red after wildly lunging in on substitute Brahim Diaz
Guardiola berated referee Lee Mason on the pitch at full-time before walking away in disgust
Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott was also quick to slam Bennett for his aggressive play.
‘It was childish and immature from Joe Bennett, especially the one on Sane,’ he said on BBC’s coverage.
‘It looked like it was pretty malicious and deliberate and probably could have caused some problems.’
Sane’s German national team also tweeted Cardiff, demanding they took a less physical approach during the match.
‘Hey, @CardiffCityFC. Just letting you know, we have a really important tournament in the summer. Please don’t hurt our players. Thanks.’