PSG Reportedly Ask for Better Protection from Referees After Neymar Complaints

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly written a letter to Ligue 1's arbitration body asking for better protection for players from referees, following complaints made by Neymar after the club's 3-2 win over Rennes.

According to Marca's Pablo Polo, PSG have contacted the powers that be to "raise awareness of the issues among the referees" after the Brazil international was subjected to several excessive challenges in Tuesday's clash, while Kylian Mbappe left the field on a stretcher in the 2-1 defeat to Lyon on January 21 after a collision with goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.

Rennes did not take kindly to Neymar's showboating during the Coupe de la Ligue match, and he was fouled on numerous occasions, per Goal UK:

Per The Sun's Jake Lambourne, Neymar said after the match: "I'm playing football but players provoke me a lot."

PSG manager Unai Emery also called for protection, telling Canal+ (h/t Lambourne) "Neymar plays like that and he is a great player, so he needs to enjoy himself on the pitch in order to bring what he can to the team. He must also be protected and not just him, every player."

Emery's comments echoed those made by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola after his side's rough treatment at the hands of Cardiff City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.

Football journalist Sam Cunningham relayed his quotes:

"

Guardiola: "Or it will happen again, it will happen again. It happened once, it happened with Brahim again at the end. So please. For football in general, the players they are the artists, you have to take care of them. That’s why you are here and why I’m here."

— Sam Cunningham (@samcunningham) January 28, 2018"

One particular challenge—made by Joe Bennett on Leroy Sane, who could be out for over six weeks with an ankle injury as a result—drew plenty of attention, including from Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail:

The Telegraph's Paul Hayward backed Guardiola:

Though English football typically has a reputation for being more physical than Ligue 1 and Europe's other top leagues, resorting to robust challenges to stop opponents—particularly if they possess superior skill or speed—isn't an uncommon sight anywhere, and players of Neymar's ability might as well have targets on their backs.

Football is and should remain a contact sport, but excessive physicality feels at odds with the skill and technical ability displayed in the modern game, particularly at the top level.

As such, more stringent enforcement of punishments from officials for bad tackles could be a welcome change and lead to fewer instances of them.

Players could also change the way they approach games, though with so much at stake, they may be unlikely to stop employing a method that can give them an edge.