Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has called for the introduction of European referees into the Premier League to reduce yellow cards.

Hughes is frustrated many mis-timed tackles in English domestic football result in an immediate caution.

The Rovers manager, whose team are bottom of the Fair Play League, believes continental referees give greater leeway and allow the game to flow more, as illustrated in the Champions League.

. He said: "Maybe it's a case where we introduce European referees to the Premier League and our referees referee in other European countries. Maybe that's something we can look at.

"Maybe referees plying their trade week in, week out in this country become too familiar with certain players and certain teams and maybe on occasions inevitably it will cloud their judgment.

. "Referees obviously prepare very professionally, like we do for the opposition, for the teams they are going to be working with so sometimes that can cloud the game even before it has kicked off."

Hughes added: "Maybe the option of bringing in European referees to referee our games could possibly be looked at and give them the opportunity to referee teams that they haven't refereed on that many occasions.

"Maybe that would allow the game to possibly flow a little bit better. But the bottom line is that they have all got to get the big decisions right."