Keown blasts ‘cowardly’ tackles

FORMER England and Arsenal defender Martin Keown has branded players who make two-footed tackles “cowardly”.

There been a recent proliferation of red cards for the offence — Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho and Reading’s Brynjar Gunnarsson were the latest miscreants on Wednesday — and concerns are growing someone will be seriously injured unless it is stamped out.

Keown believes modern-day players are more concerned with self-preservation and have little concern for opponents’ welfare.

“It is creeping in more and more. I saw a couple yesterday and the players made them look pre-meditated,” he said.

“They really need to stamp it out, outlaw it in the game. Yesterday everyone was punished in the right way and it was good to see Carvalho come out and apologise.

“I think it is cowardly when you go into a challenge when you know you are not going to get hurt.”

The ex-Everton defender, capped 43 times by his country, was no great respecter of opposing teams in his playing days but he stressed he always tried to win the ball fairly.

“I don’t know if I could do a two-footed tackle. It is something I would never have done instinctively,” added Keown.

“When I was playing I would identify the ball and pinch it with one foot or the other.

“I think it will disappear. I think when players see it on television they will regret it.’’

Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor agreed with Keown’s sentiments and called for captains to have a greater role in preventing wild tackles by communicating with referees before and during games.

“The only way the game is going to survive is not through a ‘Rollerball’ or ice hockey type of ‘crash, bang, wallop’,” he said.

“It’s an entertainment because of it’s skill and you have to protect skilful players first and foremost.

“We have to show a concern for the health and safety of players.”

Yesterday a spokesman for the Professional Game Match Officials Board denied there had been an instruction to be any stricter than they usually are.

The spokesman said: “There has been no ‘clamp down’ on the tackle or new directive issued — referees are simply applying the law as it has always stood.”