Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has warned that former referee Dermot Gallagher's suggestion that robust challenges have no place in the modern game is misguided. Gallagher was referring to Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell's controversial challenge on Theo Walcott, which injured the Arsenal and England winger but did not warrant a free kick.

"This is a physical contact game and fans love the commitment," Allardyce said.

"You take that commitment away and you haven't got a product. If you don't have a product, you don't have the money that you have got, you don't have the worldwide recognition - you will destroy the game.

"(That is) irrespective of what other managers might say. The big managers will say, yes, let's outlaw it, because they don't want their big stars tackled, but it is a big part of the game - the fans love it, the whole of the world loves it.

"I'm a bit passionate about it, because it has become a game for pansies to be honest with you."

Allardyce dismissed Gallagher's comments as "nonsense", arguing that a player should never give anything but 100% commitment when tackling.

"When I see Dermot Gallagher justifying that Ridgewell's tackle against Theo Walcott should be outlawed, then I want the Football Association and the referees to justify to me how Ridgewell can tackle without making contact," Allardyce said.

"Does he put a 60% challenge in? Does he put a 25% challenge in so it's not quite as fierce? No - its absolute nonsense, what he (Gallagher) is talking about.

"If you go for a tackle, you go for a tackle. The tackle takes the ball and your impetus takes you through the player.

"There's nothing you can do about that. You can't start asking a player to be weighing up what pace he is running at or whether he should slow down before he does it. It's a complete nonsense."