FA charge Rodri with misconduct for questioning referee integrity following Spurs draw

The Football Association (FA) has charged Manchester City midfielder Rodri with misconduct after his post-match comments about refereeing following the 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.

The FA confirmed that the Spain international is accused of acting improperly during a media interview by making remarks that imply bias and or question the integrity of a match official.

Rodri has until February 18 to respond to the charge.

The 29-year-old spoke out after City let a 2-0 half-time lead slip at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Dominic Solanke’s controversial goal sparking anger among City players.

Solanke’s first strike was allowed to stand despite Rodri believing the Tottenham forward kicked through the leg of City defender Marc Guehi in the build-up. Rodri criticised referee Robert Jones after the game.

“I know we won too much, and the people do not want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral,” Rodri said.

He also claimed City had been on the wrong end of multiple decisions this season and urged officials to pay closer attention to key moments.

City’s frustration centred on Solanke’s opener early in the second half, which shifted the momentum of the match before he later completed a comeback to earn Spurs a point.

The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel has since backed the decision to allow Solanke’s first goal by a 4-1 vote.

The panel stated that Solanke kicked the ball first before making contact with Guehi as both players arrived at the same time.

However, the same panel unanimously believed Rodri should have been sent off in stoppage time.

Rodri, who was already booked, brought down Wilson Odobert late on but was not shown a second yellow card by Jones.

The panel said the foul stopped a promising attack and should have resulted in a second caution.

The charge leaves Rodri facing potential disciplinary action, with previous cases showing players can be punished for public comments which question the integrity of referees.

Man City are currently second in the Premier League table and remain in pursuit of leaders Arsenal, with the title race tightening as the season moves deeper into its final stretch.