Nigel Pearson labelled the officials' treatment of Rob Atkinson on the side of the pitch as a disgrace after the defender sustained a suspected ACL injury during Bristol City's 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
The 24-year-old could be sidelined for the rest of the season after being forced off on a stretcher after 17 minutes at the Stadium of Light. Atkinson went down following a fairly innocuous challenge with Amad Diallo but the severity of the injury soon became clear as he held his right knee in obvious discomfort.
As Atkinson was already just off the pitch receiving treatment from the physio in front of the dugout, referee Gavin Ward issued play to continue. Just seconds later, the ball hit the central defender while he was lying on the floor with players forced to run around him.
