Reading striker Nelson Oliveira has blasted the FA for refusing to punish Tyrone Mings after claiming he could have been blinded by the defender’s horror face stamp.

Oliveira suffered five deep wounds and broke his nose in four places after being trampled on by Mings during Reading’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa last weekend.

But under FA rules Bournemouth loanee Mings cannot be banned retrospectively because referee Geoff Eltringham spotted the incident at the time and took no action.

Nelson Oliveira slammed the FA after Tyrone Mings escaped punishment for stamping on him

The Reading striker suffered five deep wounds, broke his nose and could have been blinded

Speaking to the media for the first time on Thursday, Oliveira said: ‘I’m not saying he did it on purpose but he could have avoided me 100 per cent.

‘He texted me to apologise. At the time I hadn’t seen the video. Football is an aggressive game but that is not football. It could have been much worse; I could be blind.

‘I’m not criticising the referee because it’s not my job. It’s up to the FA to look at these things.

This is the moment when Mings lost his balance and planted his boot on Oliveira’s face

Oliveira questioned if the FA would have acted differently if it had happened to Harry Kane

‘If the same thing happened to Harry Kane what would happen? How would the FA look at it when his career could have been over? It’s a question to ask people and the media.

‘If this happens in Portugal they would look at it again. You see UFC fighters come off looking better than me.’ 

Mings was suspended for five games in 2017 for stamping on Manchester United ace Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s head.

Oliveira added: ‘In the last two years he has stamped on the head of two players. The FA need to look at that.

‘I know there are FA rules but something things are bigger than that.’ 

Mings was handed a five-game ban for stamping on Zlatan Ibrahimovic back in March 2017

Reading boss Jose Gomes accused the on-loan Aston Villa defender of doing it on purpose

Oliveira is being fitted with a face mask but is unlikely to play for Reading at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Royals boss Jose Gomes has accused Mings of stamping on Oliveira on purpose.

Gomes said: ‘Our media department has a very good picture that clearly shows him looking down before he steps on Nelson’s face. There is no doubt it’s intentional.

‘The FA must punish Mings or the referee, but the ref didn’t see it. Now nothing happens and it is not fair.’

Rangers have lodged their intention to appeal against Alfredo Morelos’ latest red card.

Morelos was sent off for the third time against Aberdeen this season – and the fourth time in total – following a clash with Dons defender Scott McKenna on Wednesday night.

The Colombian striker appeared to stamp on the Scotland international after the defender fell to the floor after making a clearance.

Rangers will appeal the red carded awarded to Alfredo Morelos on Wednesday night

The Colombian striker clashed with Aberdeen defender Scott McKenna

McKenna was also dismissed for his retaliation at Pittodrie, swinging a kick back towards Morelos who went down clutching his face.

Remarkably, Morelos has got half as many red cards in 30 games for Rangers this season (4) as manager Steven Gerrard received in his 710-game Liverpool career.

The Rangers boss voiced his concern about his star striker’s ill-discipline hindering his development: ‘I think for Alfredo to go to the next level or to improve he will have to channel his aggression.

‘I’ll be honest, I haven’t had the chance to analyse the incident back so I can’t tell you if Scott deserved a red or whether Alfredo did.

Steven Gerrard said his star striker must channel his aggression if he is to reach the next level

‘But they’ve had a fantastic battle up until that point. Scott was physical with Alfredo, Alfredo was physical with them.

‘Two top players, but unfortunately they have both ended up with red cards.’ 

The 22-year-old is Rangers top goalscorer this season with 23 goals from 39 appearances in all competitions.

The Light Blues ran out 4-2 winners on the night with Morelos scoring twice for the before being dismissed by referee Bobby Madden.

Rangers will have to submit their full argument for appeal to the Scottish Football Association by Friday afternoon.

Manchester City’s players had no time to reflect on going top of the Premier League table as they were back on the training ground on Thursday, busy preparing for their next big game. 

Victory over Everton on Wednesday night saw City rise above title rivals Liverpool on goal difference, albeit having played a game more. 

But rather than ease off the pedal, City are revelling in their momentum and boss Pep Guardiola is keen to harness the confidence and belief in every training session. 

Manchester City were back in training after going top of the Premier League on Wednesday

Philippe Sandler and Oleksandr Zinchenko were all smiles as the rain came down for training

Gabriel Jesus, who scored in the win over Everton, insists there is an appetite for more titles

Gabriel Jesus, one of the scorers at Goodison Park, wore a big smile despite the drizzly conditions in Manchester as City’s players switch their attentions to the visit of Chelsea on Sunday. 

The match will act as something of a dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup final two weeks later but with nothing to separate Liverpool and City right now, Guardiola will know his side cannot afford to drop any more points between now and the season finale.  

When City lost to Newcastle at the end of January, Liverpool had the chance to stretch their lead at the top to seven points, only to draw their next two matches and allow Guardiola’s side back in.

Boss Pep Guardiola is keen for no let-up from his players as Danilo goes through his shooting

After going top the momentum and confidence is with City as rivals Liverpool are stuttering

Riyad Mahrez, who was an unused substitute against Everton, gives a thumbs-up in training

Wins over Arsenal and Everton this week have been pivotal and has changed the complexion of the title race with some fans sensing Liverpool could create an insurmountable gap just a few weeks ago. 

Jesus, speaking to the club’s media team after victory over Everton, insists there is a real desire in the City squad to retain the title – a feat no team has managed since Manchester United in 2007-08 and 2008-09. 

‘Everyone won the game, because we knew it was going to be a difficult game,’ the Brazilian striker said.

‘We need to work hard and tonight we went onto the pitch to win the game because we want to win the title again. 

‘I think we really want to play well every single game and win the games and of course the Premier League because it’s an amazing league. We love football, so we go onto the pitch to play well and win the title.

Liverpool host Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday and know if they avoid defeat they will return to the summit with 12 games to go.  

There was a good intensity to Thursday’s session as the squad prepare to take on Chelsea

Kevin de Bruyne slides in on City starlet Phil Foden as competition for starting spots hots up

Rising star Ian Poveda continues to impress in the first-team set-up as he turns with the ball

Barcelona chief Josep Bartomeu has admitted the club’s recent big-money investments are a sign that preparations are being made for life after Lionel Messi.

The mercurial Argentine still remains at the peak of his powers, despite being set to turn 32-years-old in June. 

Barca shattered their transfer record for playmaker Philippe Coutinho last January, while agreed a £65million deal for Ajax youngster Frenkie de Jong this month. 

Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu admits signings are preparation for Lionel Messi’s exit

Bartomeu (left) recently pulled off the acquisition of Ajax wonderkid Frenkie De Jong for £65m

Messi still has two years to run on his current Barca deal, which makes him the highest paid player in world football,.

In signing his deal in 2017, Messi’s buyout clause was raised to 700m euros (£626m) meaning the Argentina captain is set to finish his playing days at the Nou Camp.

‘I know one day Lionel will say he’s retiring,’ Bartomeu told the journalist Guillem Balague on the 5live Football Daily podcast.

Messi still has two years left on his contract, but Barca know he will retire some day soon

The Mercurial star featured against Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey on Wednesday evening

‘We have to prepare the club for the future,’ added Bartomeu, who is due to step down from his role as president of the La Liga giants in 2021.

‘We are bringing great young players to the team because we need to continue this era of success. That’s our responsibility.

‘My mandate will be finished in two seasons. So I need to leave the club in a great position and tell the new president ‘that’s our legacy’.’

Messi has scored 581 goals in 664 games for Barca and will arguably go down as the greatest ever play to wear the famous striped shirt.

He came off the bench on Wednesday night as Barca faced their fierce rivals Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey.

Philippe Coutinho, another of Barca’s big money investments, came off for Messi against Real

Barca drew the game 1-1, after Brazilian winger Malcom cancelled out Lucas Vasquez’s early strike.

The two foes will meet again at the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg of the fixture, on Wednesday, February 27. 

Barca currently top the division in Spain, six clear at the summit with 50 points from 22 matches played. 

Football in video games sometimes struggles to replicate real life – however Jesse Lingard has proved he is capable of really scoring goals his virtual self manages in FIFA.

The Manchester United forward was challenged to recreate a goal scored in FIFA 19 by a gamer, Sean, in a video for BT Sport. 

In the video game, the ball is passed through to virtual Lingard on the edge of the D. He flicks it around the defender, takes two touches to keep up the ball, then volleys it into the goalkeeper’s top left corner.

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Jesse Lingard has proved he is capable of really scoring goals his virtual self manages in FIFA

The Manchester United forward was challenged to recreate a goal scored in FIFA 19

After three attempts, Lingard completes the flick, two keepy-uppies and volleyed finish

It’s a stunning goal, but Sean is casual about it, saying: ‘It’s simple, he can do it’. Lingard is pleased: ‘He believes in me’.

However it proves tricky for the United and England star, who eventually needs three official attempts to get it right. 

He almost manages on the first attempt, performing the flick and keepy-uppies perfectly, but thrashing the finish wide. 

Lingard will hope to recreate a similar moment of magic in the Champions League against PSG

The second attempt is worse, Lingard blazing wildly over bar from 10 yards. The third, however, is placed into the back of the net after a note-perfect build-up. 

At the end of the video, it is revealed Lingard did in fact manage the trick first time – in rehearsal, before the cameras properly started rolling. 

Lingard will hope to recreate a similar moment of magic for real next week, when United take on Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 encounter.