Manchester City midfielder Rodri faces a possible ban after being charged with misconduct by the FA for his comments made about referees following the 2-2 draw with Tottenham.
Rodri blasted referee Rob Jones and suggested match officials were biased against City after it was judged Dominic Solanke had not fouled Marc Guehi before scoring Tottenham’s second-half goal in north London.
City led 2-0 on the break with Solanke scoring twice to level the sport as Pep Guardiola’s side dropped two crucial points within the Premier League title race.
A furious Rodri said: ‘I do know we won an excessive amount of and the people don’t want us to win however the referee must be neutral and for me truthfully, it’s not fair. It’s not fair because we work so hard in these situations and now to make these decisions, we’ve to maneuver on.
‘After all it’s essential to come back but at the top, when all the pieces is finished, we’re frustrated since it’s so clear the foul.
‘He kicked the leg and naturally with the push of the motion on the ball, the ball goes in. We have now to concentrate to those little things otherwise it’s going to be difficult for everybody because this league is like this – it’s about small details and all the pieces counts, so I feel today is a really tough day for us on this sense.’
Rodri has now been charged for those comments. A press release from the FA said: ‘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 query the integrity of a match official and/or match officials, contrary to FA Rule 3.1.’
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Rodri has until 18 February to offer a response to the charge. After that date, an independent panel will rule what punishment he should face.
How long could Rodri be banned for?
Rodri’s comments could have a major impact on the title race. City at the moment are just three points behind Arsenal at the highest of the table after the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Brentford on Thursday with the 2 sides also set to satisfy within the Carabao Cup final on Sunday 22 March.
City faltered in Rodri’s absence through injury last season with the Spain international still a hugely influential presence in Pep Guardiola’s side.
It stays to be seen what, if any, ban Rodri receives.
While there may be little precedent for players implying bias from referees, managers across the Premier League have been hit with bans for comments made about match officials.
In May 2023, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp received a two-man ban after suggesting referee Paul Tierney had ‘something against’ his side within the 4-3 win over Tottenham. The German coach missed the next game against Aston Villa with the second game suspended until the top of the 2023-24 season.
In 2018, Arsene Wenger was given a three-match touchline ban and fined £40,000 after he admitted questioning the integrity of a match referee in a draw with West Brom. Wenger accepted he used abusive and improper language and behavior within the match officials’ changing room.
In 2015, Jose Mourinho was fined £50,000 and given a one-match suspended stadium ban after accepting a misconduct charge. The charge was in relation to comments he made while Chelsea manager following defeat to Southampton, alleging there may be ‘quite an enormous pleasure in putting us down’ and accusing referees of being ‘afraid to offer decisions for Chelsea.’
In a more moderen albeit barely different incident, Nuno Espirito Santo was handed a three-match touchline ban while answerable for Nottingham Forest following a 2-2 draw with Briton in September 2024.
The FA statement on the time said Santo ‘acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official.’
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