Rodri hit with £80k fine but avoids suspension for City over referee bias row

Rodri has avoided a suspension after being fined £80,000 for comments he made about a referee following Manchester City’s Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

The sanction was imposed by the Football Association (FA) after the midfielder admitted a charge relating to remarks made during a post-match interview.

Rodri criticised the officiating after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 1.

The Spanish international suggested that referee Robert Jones had not been ‘neutral’ during the match.

The FA charged Rodri with acting improperly by making comments that implied bias or questioned the integrity of a match official.

The governing body confirmed that the player admitted the charge during disciplinary proceedings.

An independent regulatory commission subsequently imposed a financial penalty and issued a warning regarding his future conduct.

Rodri’s £80,000 fine reflects the seriousness with which the FA treats criticism of referees.

However, the commission ruled that the threshold required for a sporting sanction had not been met.

As a result, the midfielder will not face a suspension and remains available for selection.

The controversy arose from an incident during the match involving Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke.

Man City players believed Solanke had fouled defender Marc Guehi before scoring the goal that helped Tottenham complete their comeback.

Rodri voiced his frustration after the match when discussing the decision.

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

The midfielder later attempted to clarify his remarks during the disciplinary process.

In a letter submitted as evidence, Rodri stated that his words had been misunderstood and misinterpreted by some media outlets.

He later acknowledged that the comments were inappropriate and fell below the standards expected of a professional player.

Rodri also emphasised that he did not intend to question the integrity of the match officials.

“I have always had great respect for referees and the difficult job they undertake,” he wrote in a statement.

The 29-year-old added that his comments were made in a moment of frustration following a disappointing result.

Rodri’s apology and admission of wrongdoing were considered by the regulatory commission when determining the final sanction.

While the fine serves as a warning over public criticism of officials, the decision means Man City will not lose one of their most influential players through suspension.