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Bristol City have taken the unusual step of writing to every other club in the Championship to explain that they will not kick the ball out of play, unless a player has suffered a genuine head injury.

Head coach Lee Johnson revealed the decision, as he answered questions following the Robins' 3-1 defeat to Leeds United on Sunday.

A flashpoint occured when Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich went down and the Robins played on, leading to some brief argy-bargy on the touchline which then saw Kasey Palmer appear to throw the ball towards the visiting coaching team on the sidelines.

Johnson clarified why he had spoken to Marcelo Bielsa during half-time at Ashton Gate as the two coaches emerged out of the tunnel together at least a minute after the 22 players had taken to the field.

"It's fine. We sent an email out to the clubs because this happens often," said Johnson.

"Somebody goes down and sometimes it's tactical, because people try and gain an advantage and sometimes it's genuine.

"So we just decided as a club that we're going to make a rule for the 46 games that we're going to let the referee manage the game.

(Image: Ryan Hiscott/JMP)

"So therefore if that's our player injured or the opposition player injured, there's a consistency there.

"If the referee sees a head injury he will stop the game but if it's not a head injury he will play on.

"And our players are coached to play with 10 men in certain environments. And that's what I was trying to explain [to Bielsa]. Obviously that's not easy with the language barrier but in the cold light of day we were able to sit and talk it through."

Johnson also played down the antics on the sidelines that saw several physios and members of the coaching staff from both sides come together and exchange words.

"If you had a tactician watching the way they conduct their technical area you'd see why," added the head coach.

"Fair play to them, most clubs do the same."

Bristol City will look to put the defeat to Leeds United behind them when they visit Birmingham City next Saturday.