After the draw at Tottenham Hotspur, Rodri publicly criticized the referee’s performance. As a result, the Manchester City midfielder has now been fined.
“I know we’ve won too often and people don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral,” Rodri said after the game at Spurs (2-2), referring to referee Robert Jones. It comes as no surprise that this was not particularly well received, especially by the English refereeing community and the English Football Association (FA).
Consequently, the Spaniard has now been sanctioned for this statement.
In a statement issued by the FA on Monday, it said: “An independent regulatory commission has sanctioned Rodri for his comments to the media after Manchester City’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, February 1.”
Specifically, Rodri must pay a fine of £80,000 (around €92,000) for “inappropriate behavior.”
Specifically, Rodri must pay a fine of £80,000 (around €92,000) for “inappropriate behavior.” However, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has avoided a suspension, which had also been on the table.
In a letter that was also part of the proceedings, Rodri apologized and explained that his statements were made “in a moment of frustration after a disappointing result.” He added that his team had been affected by similar decisions “two or three games in a row.”
Nevertheless, in a second letter, he acknowledged that his comments were “inappropriate and fell short of the expected standards.” “I have always had great respect for referees and the difficult job they do in a fast-paced environment under high pressure, and I continue to have that respect.”
In the game in North London, ManCity had given up a 2-0 lead. The Skyblues were particularly unhappy about the goal that made it 1-2, as Dominic Solanke, who later scored the equalizer with a great “scorpion kick,” had kicked Marc Guehi in the calf beforehand.
