| Samir Nasri urges referees to protect players from X-rated tackles • Arsenal winger speaking in wake of Nigel de Jong's challenge • Three Arsenal players have suffered similar injuries recentlyArsenal's Samir Nasri has urged referees to do more to protect Premier League players from leg-breaking tackles.Nasri's manager, Arsène Wenger, has long championed the need to stamp out X-rated challenges from the game, with three of his players, Abou Diaby, Eduardo and, last season, the young Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey being left with broken legs and months of rehabilitation.The Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong was this week dropped from the Holland squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Moldova and Sweden after his tackle left Newcastle United's Hatem Ben Arfa with a double fracture.Ben Arfa's fellow France international Nasri believes malice is often difficult to prove, but maintains referees could do more to clamp down on over-zealous challenges."What strikes me is the refereeing. The referee saw Hatem exit on a stretcher with an oxygen mask, yet he didn't punish de Jong. It's that which has to change in England," Nasri said."Nigel de Jong has pedigree, a bit like [Mark] van Bommel. Referees should know that these players make foul tackles. The tackle wasn't exactly like the one that Eduardo suffered against Birmingham, but it was a hard tackle, from the side."Nasri added on Eurosport: "There are sometimes accidents and there always have been, considering the commitment levels – but are we protected enough in England? I don't think so."The Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, meanwhile, has defended De Jong, saying that, "whilst he is naturally competitive, Nigel is first and foremost a great player as well as being honest and loyal and I support him wholeheartedly."Refereesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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