Rodri Avoids Ban, Fined £80K

The midfielder's outburst came after a contentious 2-2 draw with Tottenham on February 1, where City relinquished a 2-0 halftime lead. The turning point was a controversial 53rd-minute goal by Spurs' striker Dominic Solanke, which was allowed to stand after a VAR check. Rodri's frustration stemmed from the belief that Solanke had fouled City defender Marc Guéhi in the build-up to the goal. In a post-match interview, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner stated, "I know we won too much and the people don't want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. It's not fair because we work so hard." The Football Association charged Rodri with acting in an improper manner by making comments that "imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official." By avoiding a ban, the Spanish international remains available for City, who trail league leaders Arsenal by seven points with a game in hand. Rodri admitted the charge and submitted two letters in his defense, apologizing for his choice of words and clarifying he did not intend to question the officials' integrity. The FA's regulatory commission noted that his admission, apology, and the fact English is not his first language were considered in the decision to issue a fine instead of a suspension. To argue against a suspension, Manchester City's representatives cited three similar past cases involving managers Frank Lampard, Marco Silva, and Chris Wilder, who all received fines but no bans for their comments about officials.