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FIFA probe into Neil Taylor tackle 'extreme' - Steve Bruce

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has questioned why FIFA has opened proceedings against Neil Taylor following his tackle on Seamus Coleman.

Defender Taylor was sent off during Wales' goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland last week, after making a challenge which left Coleman with a broken leg.

The Everton man will be sidelined for at least six months and FIFA will study referee Nicola Rizzoli's report before deciding whether to act over the tackle.

Villa's Taylor, already banned for Wales' June trip to Serbia, is facing an extended suspension if the governing body decides to punish him further.

Bruce said: "It seems a bit extreme if FIFA are getting involved, but it is a World Cup qualifier. I don't really know what the procedures are. It's international football, so I don't really deal with it.

"We saw it a minute before, one of the world's great players [Gareth Bale] committed an awful challenge.

"I don't think he meant it but thankfully John O'Shea seemed to get away with a few stitches in his leg.

"But unfortunately it's part and parcel of what happens.''

An extended ban would see Taylor miss Wales' World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Moldova in September but he is due to face Norwich in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday, with Bruce insisting he would never leave the 28-year-old out.

"No, I think it is best he plays straight away. Look, he is disappointed but he has to live with it,'' he said. "It has happened and Neil now just has to work quietly and get on with it.

"They've been in touch with each other, I believe, so there's nothing more really he can do.''

Former Manchester United defender Bruce believes, while expressing his sympathy for Coleman, that serious injuries are unavoidable in football.

"We never ever go out to intentionally hurt an opponent,'' he said. "I've had it myself. Tommy Tynan broke my leg -- I tried to have a kick at him so it was my own fault! Certainly you learn from it.

"Where I played there were times you injured people -- most of us accept you are going to get an injury but you hope it is not a serious one

"Nobody wants to see it -- but how many times have we seen a stretcher on the pitch?

"I remember breaking someone's cheekbone years ago -- they lost their teeth, black eye, all the rest of it. It happens. I've been on the receiving end, too, a few times, as my face testifies.

"We wish Seamus a speedy recovery. No one wants to see that, especially in a big international game.''