Rodri fined £80,000 after admitting an FA charge over comments he made about the referee following Manchester City’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in February. The Spanish midfielder also received a formal warning about his future conduct.
The FA found that Rodri acted improperly during a post-match interview by implying bias and questioning the integrity of the match official, Robert Jones. The controversy arose after Tottenham recovered from 2-0 down, with replays showing Dominic Solanke kicking through Marc Guéhi’s leg to score. City felt the decision went against them.
An FA statement said: “An independent regulatory commission has sanctioned Rodri for the media comments that he made after Manchester City’s Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, February 1. It was alleged that the midfielder acted in an improper manner during a post-match media interview by making comments that imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official and/or match officials, contrary to FA Rule E3.1. Rodri subsequently admitted the charge. The Regulatory Commission imposed an £80,000 fine and a warning as to future conduct following a hearing.”
Rodri explained that his remarks referenced previous matches where he felt City had been on the receiving end of controversial decisions. He cited the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg against Newcastle, when an Antoine Semenyo goal was disallowed, and the 2-0 derby defeat at Old Trafford, where Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot was not sent off for a challenge on Jérémy Doku. The 29-year-old has since apologized for his comments.
The fine and warning underline the FA’s stance on maintaining referee authority and preventing public criticism that questions match integrity. Rodri’s case also highlights the fine line players walk when expressing frustration over decisions that shape key moments in the Premier League.
