Manchester City midfielder Rodri is facing disciplinary action after the Football Association charged him with misconduct following his remarks about match officials in the aftermath of City’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Tottenham.
The Spain international openly criticised referee Rob Jones after the match in north London, where City surrendered a two-goal advantage.
Pep Guardiola’s side were 2-0 ahead at half-time, but Tottenham responded after the break, with Dominic Solanke scoring twice to ensure the points were shared.
The controversy centred on Tottenham’s second goal. Rodri believed Solanke had committed a foul on Marc Guehi in the build-up, though the referee allowed play to continue.
After the final whistle, the City midfielder expressed his frustration in strong terms.
“I know we won too much and the people don’t want us to win but the referee has to be neutral and for me honestly, it’s not fair. It’s not fair because we work so hard in these situations and now to make these decisions, we have to move on.
“Of course you need to come back but at the end, when everything is finished, we are frustrated because it’s so clear the foul.
“He kicked the leg and of course with the push of the action on the ball, the ball goes in. We have to pay attention to these little things otherwise it’s going to be difficult for everyone because this league is like this – it’s about small details and everything counts, so I think today is a very tough day for us in this sense.”
Those comments have now led to formal action from the FA. In a statement, the governing body confirmed the charge, saying: “It’s 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 3.1.”
Rodri has been given until 18 February to submit his response. Once that deadline passes, the matter will be considered by an independent regulatory panel, which will determine whether any sanction is appropriate.
The charge comes at a delicate stage of the season. City are chasing another league title and cannot afford disruptions to a squad that has already faced challenges at key moments in recent campaigns.
Guardiola has often emphasised discipline and composure, particularly when it comes to public criticism of officials.
What punishment could follow?
At this stage, it is unclear whether Rodri will receive a suspension, a fine, or another form of punishment.
Cases involving comments about referees vary in severity, depending on the wording used and the context in which they were delivered.
Should the FA decide to impose a suspension, it would add a fresh layer of complexity to an already intense run-in.
City and Arsenal are also scheduled to meet in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday 22 March, further heightening the stakes around any potential ban.
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Precedents suggest punishments can be substantial if authorities believe a line has been crossed.
In 2023, Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic received an eight-match suspension from the FA after pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during an ill-tempered FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Manchester United.
Mitrovic was shown a straight red card at the time, but the governing body later stated that the standard three-match ban was “clearly insufficient” given the seriousness of the incident.
Rodri’s case is different, as it relates to comments made in a media interview rather than physical conduct on the pitch.
Nonetheless, the FA takes allegations implying bias or questioning the integrity of officials seriously.
For now, the outcome rests with the independent panel. Rodri’s response by 18 February will be considered before any decision is reached.
Until then, uncertainty hangs over one of City’s most dependable performers at a crucial juncture in their campaign.
