Pep Guardiola berated referee Lee Mason for failing to protect Man City players like injured Leroy Sane

PEP GUARDIOLA steamed in to FA Cup referee Lee Mason for failing to protect his Manchester City players up against Neil Warnock’s rough-house Cardiff tactics.

Midfield maestro Leroy Sane was the biggest victim after a horror lunge from Joe Bennett that could sideline the brilliant German for months.

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After the final whistle, Guardiola marched on to the pitch to confront Mason over his handling of the fourth-round clash that City won 2-0.

Guardiola said: "All I ask is that the referee protects the players, not the Man City players, just the players.

"That's all I ask from the people in football, please.

"It's difficult for every team to win this kind of game.

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"I know my players, it was many (bad tackles).

"Any team can play how they want but the referee must decide what is correct or incorrect.  I just ask that he protects the players."

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When asked about the seriousness of Sane’s injury after a scything shin-high challenge that bent his ankle, Guardiola said: "He will be out for a while, a few weeks or months, we will see."

Bennett was eventually sent off for a second yellow card with just seconds remaining and manager Neil Warnock accused his own player of getting a red on purpose to miss next week’s trip to Leeds.

He said: "I was disappointed with the sending off because he obviously doesn't want to go to Leeds.

"When you are on a yellow, that's pathetic, that's disrespectful to his team-mates."

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