Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has entered the row over Vincent Kompany's controversial dismissal against Manchester United.
Wigan boss gives his take on the City defender's dismissal
Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has entered the row over Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany's controversial dismissal against Manchester United last week by insisting every two-footed tackle should lead to a red card.
City will have Kompany suspended for their visit to Wigan on Monday after he lost an appeal against a four-match ban imposed after his red card from referee Chris Foy in the Manchester derby FA Cup defeat.
And Martinez claims that referees need to take the same approach to all such challenges in order to protect flair players.
Protect players
"I do believe that we need to protect the players that we all love and are excited to watch, the only thing you need is consistency and you want to all those challenges being red-carded," he said.
"That's where the frustration comes in. Two-footed challenges should be red cards, that should be the end of the debate.
"If you are player and go into a challenge with both feet that should be a red card.
"That's what the rules say, you can agree or disagree - are we losing the art of tackling or are we protecting the flair players? - but that's the law of the game."
Title favourites
Turning his attention to the game, Martinez admitted that despite the absence of Kompany due to suspension and the Toure brothers of Yaya and Kolo because of African Cup of Nations commitment, City will be difficult to beat at the DW Stadium.
"All the big teams can lose two or three players without being weakened and Manchester City are so strong, and they deserve the label of being title favourites because of what they have done in the first half of the season," he explained.
"The title race is going to be a really close affair. Spurs are up there and Manchester United with their experience and know-how are contenders but I think City are favourites.
"The football they played in the first third of the season was breathtaking and they have the strength to keep it going to the end of the season."
