Head of referees Mike Riley met Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain to discuss player protection on Tuesday - but Pep Guardiola says he did not even know Riley was at the City Football Academy Head of referees Mike Riley met Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain to discuss player protection on Tuesday - but Pep Guardiola says he did not even know Riley was at the City Football AcademyHead of referees Mike Riley met Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain at the City Football Academy on Tuesday to discuss the club's concerns over what they perceive to be dangerous tackles. Pep Guardiola has raised the issue of player protection on several occasions this season following tackles committed on City players. Riley was pictured leaving the City Football Academy shortly before Guardiola faced the media ahead of City's Champions League match against Basel on Wednesday. When asked about the meeting between Riley and Begiristain, Guardiola said: "I didn't know Mike Riley was here. Stoke vs Man City Live on"But when I spoke about the tackles it was not about Manchester City players - it's about football.

Source: Sky sports March 06, 2018 14:26 UTC