City demand action for rough play

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 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 FA rules that would allow incidents seen by referees on the field to be reviewed again retrospectively.

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.

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

"For the football in general, and for the players who are the artists, they must do that."