Rodri penalized ahead of Man City vs Real Madrid clash in Champions League

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been fined £80,000 by the English Football Association after publicly criticizing referee Robert Jones for controversial decisions in the draw against Tottenham.

Rodri heavily fined by FA for criticizing referee after Tottenham draw

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been fined £80,000 (approximately $107,000) by the English Football Association (FA) following controversial remarks about officiating after the 2-2 draw with Tottenham in February.

After the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Rodri claimed referee Robert Jones failed to maintain "neutrality" in some crucial decisions. In that game, Pep Guardiola's team led by two goals but ultimately allowed Spurs to equalize, a result that could significantly impact the Premier League title race.

The Spanish midfielder's impassioned post-match comments prompted the FA to intervene. In an official statement, the English governing body stated that Rodri engaged in "improper conduct during a post-match interview" by making remarks implying referee bias or casting doubt on the integrity of a match official.

Despite receiving a substantial fine, Rodri luckily avoided suspension and only received an additional warning from the FA.

Controversial goal sparks dispute

The draw between Manchester City and Tottenham was also one of the most contentious matches in this Premier League season. The incident that provoked particularly strong reactions from Manchester City was Dominic Solanke's equalizing goal in the 70th minute.

According to the visiting team, the Spurs striker appeared to kick Marc Guéhi's foot before scoring. However, the goal was upheld despite vehement protests from Manchester City players.

After the match, Rodri expressed his disappointment, stating that his team had repeatedly suffered from controversial referee decisions in 2026. He also referenced the incident where Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot escaped a red card after a dangerous challenge on Jérémy Doku in the previous Manchester derby.

Rodri apologizes and avoids suspension

Following the hearing, the FA decided to only impose a fine and warning on Rodri because the midfielder admitted the charge. This helps Manchester City avoid losing a key midfield figure in domestic matches.

In his submission to the FA, Rodri explained that his remarks stemmed from frustration over feeling the match outcome was affected by an erroneous decision. The Spanish star subsequently apologized for his words.

“I apologize once again. I fully acknowledge that my statements were inappropriate and did not meet the standards expected of a professional player,” Rodri stated.

He emphasized that he did not intend to imply referee bias or question their integrity, and expressed respect for the challenging work of referees in high-pressure competitive environments.

Rodri affirmed that his comments were made in a moment of anger following a disappointing result and admitted that his phrasing at that time was inappropriate.