Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate has defended Julio Arca after his over-the-top tackle on Fulham's Andrew Johnson.
The midfielder was booked when he placed his foot over the ball and made contact high up the Fulham striker's shin.
Many people believed that the challenge warranted a straight red but the Argentine was only booked as Boro were comprehensively beaten 3-0 at Craven Cottage.
A similar challenge was made by Emanuel Adebayor in Arsenal's clash with Liverpool on Sunday, although little or no contact was made with Alvaro Arbeloa, with referee Howard Webb dismissing the Togo striker for a second bookable offence.
Boro boss Southgate admitted that Arca's challenge looked bad but insisted that there was no malicious intent.
"I don't think there's any intent in either of them. But when you look at the pictures and you slow it down, they don't look good," he told Sky Sports News.
"So I can understand people's reaction to that. But I know the nature of our player and Julio isn't a malicious type at all. He wouldn't have wanted to cause any harm, that's for certain."
Southgate has also warned off Premier League clubs looking to snatch any Boro players on the cheap during the January transfer window.
Although the former defender has admitted that he would have to sell before he buys he is adamant that the club will not be bullied if teams bid for their star players next month.
With Chelsea recently reported to be tracking forward Tuncay, Tottenham chasing winger Stewart Downing and Wigan said to be keen on striker Mido it appears Southgate may have no shortage of offers.
"We are not here just for other clubs to walk over," Southgate added.
"If people think they can just take our players out then they are wrong. We are not here to help other clubs. No-one is going to try to help us.
"People seem to think they can unsettle our players or just waltz in and take them on a whim, well they are going to find out that's not the case.
"We want as much stability as we can and if people do have an interest in our players, they need to get on with it.
"They need to make their ideas known to us so we can either say 'Thank you very much, there you go', or 'No, nothing is going to happen' and they can move on with their lives."
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