Source: PA
Bruce wants Riley input in tackling row
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is to call referees' chief Mike Riley into a brewing row over tackling after launching a passionate defence of skipper Lee Cattermole.
The combative 22-year-old midfielder found himself in the firing line of Tottenham counterpart Luka Modric and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp in recent days after a no-nonsense challenge on the Croatian during Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.
Redknapp branded Cattermole's tackle, for which he was booked by match referee Howard Webb, "reckless", but Bruce believes it was a perfectly fair challenge.
Indeed, he produced his own video evidence as he held his press conference ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League trip to Chelsea to illustrate his point.
Bruce said: "I am going to go to Mike Riley and I am going to ask him to come and clarify if that is legal or not legal because, at the end of the day, Lee still received a yellow card.
"I think we want clarity on it to say what it is. The one thing we have tried with Lee is to say, 'Hey, listen, the last thing we want is a reputation'. He has done his best, but he makes one challenge and it's away with it again."
