Stuart Kettlewell reveals Willie Collum talks as Motherwell boss demands end to rugby-style 'tip tackles' in football

Stuart Kettlewell has held talks with refs chief Willie Collum over ripping rugby’s dangerous tip-tackle out of football.

The Motherwell boss lost defender Stephen O’Donnell to a shoulder injury during last weekend’s Premier Sports Cup win over Dundee United. O'Donnell crashed awkwardly to the deck after an aerial joust and Kettlewell fears something more serious could happen if the issue is not addressed.

He explained: “Without being too dramatic, if Stephen falls another couple of inches in the way and lands on his head, what’s his neck supported by other than his full body weight coming down on top of him? If two players contest a header, both jump at the same time and come together, you are generally going to have just a bit of contact and both players fall to the ground or land on their feet, so I don’t see the severity with that.

“But when one player jumps and the other player starts to take away their body weight and your hips go above your head and your neck, then we are starting to run the risk of pretty serious injury. It’s not a moan. If you look at the challenge, I don’t think there is any intention whatsoever to injure the player, but I have been so big on this over the last 18 months. What it is they call it in rugby? The tip-tackle, when you are fully up there contesting the ball, you can’t make a back for the opponent. It’s something I think needs to be outlawed from the game.

“We have had a wee bit of dialogue with Willie and, again, it’s not a rant, it’s just something I feel we are missing at this minute in time. I don’t want to dampen the mood from the game, I thought it was really well officiated last Friday, but I just feel it’s something our eye isn’t particularly well trained for.

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