Rodri Faces Suspension Blow as Man City Prepares for Blockbuster Champions League Showdown Against Real Madrid
Manchester City's central midfielder Rodri has received a $107,000 (£80,000) penalty from the FA following remarks he made after the Citizens' 2–2 stalemate with Tottenham Hotspur in February.
The 29-year-old suggested that referee Robert Jones lacked "neutrality" following the frustrating outcome at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pep Guardiola's team let slip a commanding two-goal advantage and were eventually compelled to settle for a point in what may prove pivotal in the Premier League championship battle.
The aftermath of the encounter extended well beyond the playing field, with Rodri's heated remarks now carrying monetary repercussions. The FA issued a statement charging the 2024 Ballon d'Or recipient with conducting himself 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."
Rodri received the substantial monetary penalty, though he avoided suspension with merely a caution.
What Prompted Rodri's Head-Turning Comments
What Sparked Rodri's Controversial Statements
This Premier League campaign has witnessed numerous disputed officiating calls, with Man City's stalemate against Spurs contributing to the mounting criticism. The Citizens objected to Tottenham's leveling goal that evening, netted by Dominic Solanke.
The forward appeared to make contact through Marc Guéhi's leg while completing his team's fightback in the 70th minute, with the goal standing despite fierce objections from the away side. Following the final whistle, Rodri expressed his candid views on the refereeing performance, both during that match and throughout the current season.
"I understand we've achieved significant success and people may not want us to continue winning, but the referee must remain impartial and honestly, for me, this isn't acceptable," the Spanish player stated.
"It's unacceptable because we put in tremendous effort in these circumstances and now to witness these calls, we must press forward. Naturally you need to respond but ultimately, when everything concludes, we feel disappointed because the foul was so obvious. He made contact with the leg and naturally with the momentum of the play on the ball, it found the net."
Rodri subsequently highlighted that Man City had suffered from multiple questionable decisions since the start of 2026, most notably Man Utd defender Diogo Dalot avoiding dismissal for a harsh challenge on Jérémy Doku in what became a 2–0 victory for the Red Devils.
Why Rodri Escaped a Harsher Punishment From the FA
How Rodri Avoided More Severe FA Sanctions
Following a disciplinary hearing, the FA issued Rodri only a warning since the Spain midfielder "acknowledged the allegation made against him." While an FA suspension wouldn't have affected Man City's Champions League round of 16 encounter with Real Madrid, it could have deprived Guardiola of his midfield cornerstone in league fixtures.
Rodri provided two written statements in his defense, however, which ultimately assisted him in avoiding any sanction beyond the significant financial penalty. He attributed his remarks to disappointment: "It feels unjust when the final outcome of a game is affected by an erroneous decision rather than solely the team's performance."
The Spanish international proceeded to express regret for his statements. "I would like to offer my apologies once more ... I completely acknowledge that my words, as spoken, were unsuitable and did not meet the standards expected of me
as a professional footballer.
"I want to clarify that I never meant to suggest bias or challenge the integrity of the match officials. I have always maintained, and continue to maintain, tremendous respect for referees and the challenging role they perform in a dynamic and highly stressful environment. My remarks were expressed in a moment of disappointment following an unsatisfactory result. Looking back, I acknowledge that my choice of words was poor and could be misinterpreted in ways I never intended."