Manchester City have written to the body responsible for professional referees following a number of bad tackles on their players, Press Association Sport understands.

The Premier League leaders have reported 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 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.

  • Claudio Yacob (West Brom) on Ilkay Gundogan - September 20
  • Harry Kane (Spurs) on Raheem Sterling - December 16
  • Dele Alli (Spurs) on Kevin de Bruyne - December 16
  • Harry Maguire (Leicester) on Phil Foden - December 19
  • Jacob Murphy (Newcastle) on Ilkay Gundogan - December 27
  • Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) on Kevin de Bruyne - December 31
  • Joe Bennett (Cardiff) on Leroy Sane - January 28
  • James McClean (West Brom) on Kevin de Bruyne - January 31
  • Matt Phillips (West Brom) on Brahim Diaz - January 31

City’s move backs up the repeated calls of their manager for players to be given better protection.

They see it as something that could benefit the whole of the game, not just City, and believe other clubs might support it.

In one of the worst challenges a fortnight ago, winger Leroy Sane suffered ankle ligament damage after being caught late by Cardiff’s Joe Bennett.

Bennett received only a yellow card, as did West Brom’s Matt Phillips for a high tackle on Brahim Diaz three days later. Other bad challenges which have sparked controversy include ones on Kevin De Bruyne by Crystal Palace’s Jason Puncheon and Tottenham’s Dele Alli.

De Bruyne was also the target of a cynical foul attempt by James McClean of West Brom.

Spurs’ Harry Kane also caught Raheem Sterling and challenges on Ilkay Gundogan by Claudio Yacob of West Brom and Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy caused concern.

Youngster Phil Foden suffered ankle ligament damage after a challenge by Leicester’s Harry Maguire.

Last month manager Pep Guardiola said he had no plans to call for a meeting with Mike Riley, the head of PGMOL, but City now feel strongly on the matter and hope their letter can prompt a conversation.