Manchester City seek retrospective action for rough treatment

Premier League leaders cite nine challenges they feel have not been sufficiently punished by referees in recent months to Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL)

Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko checks on injured team mate Brahim Diaz. Jason Cairnduff / Reuters

Manchester City have written to the body in charge of professional referees to raise their concerns over a series of dangerous challenges suffered by their players, according to widespread reports on Saturday.

The BBC reported the Premier League leaders have cited nine challenges they feel have not been sufficiently punished by referees in recent months to Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

City would also like to see a change in English Football Association rules that would allow incidents seen by referees on the field to be reviewed again retrospectively.

That could possibly mean yellow cards being upgraded to red if evidence was sufficient.

In one of the worst challenges a fortnight ago, winger Leroy Sane was ruled out for six weeks by ankle ligament damage suffered after being caught late by Cardiff's Joe Bennett.

______________

Read more

Watch: Pep Guardiola is hoping Riyad Mahrez will return to his best form

Pep Guardiola takes not-so-subtle jibe at 'prestigious pundit' Gary Neville

Watch: Guardiola seeks player protection again after City beat West Brom

______________

"I said many times the only thing they [referees] have to do is protect the players," City manager Pep Guardiola said after his side's 2-0 FA Cup fourth round win in the Welsh capital.

"For the football in general, and for the players who are the artists, they must do that. That's why we are all here."

Bennett received only a yellow card, as did West Bromwich Albion's Matt Phillips for a high tackle on Brahim Diaz three days later.

Other bad challenges which have sparked controversy include lunges on Kevin de Bruyne by Crystal Palace's Jason Puncheon and Tottenham Hotspur's Dele Alli and James McClean of West Brom.

In a much-criticised move, Guardiola named only six substitutes for last weekend's 1-1 draw at Burnley claiming he had no more players left due to a spiralling injury crisis.