PORTSMOUTH, England (AP) _ Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher should be banned from soccer if he repeats the blow that left Pompey midfielder Pedro Mendes unconscious, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp said Friday.

Redknapp called the defender's challenge ``one of the worst incidents I've ever seen in the game,'' and called on the Football Association to kick him out of the sport ``if he does it again.''

Greater Manchester Police are investigating the incident after receiving a number of complaints from members of the public, which could lead to assault charges.

``Pedro is disgusted by what has been done to him,'' Redknapp said. ``There is no way I can defend what (Thatcher) did. You cannot defend it and I've told (City manager) Stuart Pearce he can't defend it either.''

Pearce agreed the FA should handle the matter, and made no excuses for Thatcher.

``I think it was a shocking challenge, to be quite honest, and I'm very disappointed in the player,'' Pearce said.

Pearce said he was discussing with the club's board whether or not to suspend Thatcher for City's game against Arsenal on Saturday.

Thatcher smashed Mendes in the head with his forearm during the teams' 0-0 draw on Wednesday, sending the Portuguese player into advertising boards at the side of the field. Mendes suffered a seizure and spent the night in hospital.

Normally, Thatcher would not be given any further punishment by the FA because he was shown a yellow card by referee Dermot Gallagher after the incident. However, the organization said it is ``looking at whether this may possibly be an exceptional case and what options may exist.''

Redknapp felt referee Dermot Gallagher made a mistake in only issuing a yellow card and called for an improvement in match officiating.

``While Pedro was being treated, the fourth official could have told Dermot he had seen a better view of the incident and told him what really happened,'' Redknapp said.

``All our lads were sickened by it. We don't want anything like this in soccer. We are there to play, not hurt each other.''