Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been fined and warned after making comments critical of the officiating in his side’s draw with Tottenham on February 1.
The Spain international was charged by the Football Association on February 13 after saying referees ‘should be neutral’ following the 2-2 draw on the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri subsequently admitted the charge and an independent commission fined him £80,000 and warned him as to his future conduct.
The written reasons issued alongside the choice revealed the commission was unanimous within the view that a sporting sanction, comparable to a playing ban, shouldn’t be imposed, and nor did the FA seek such a sanction in its submission.
Rodri told Australian broadcaster Stan Sport: ‘I do know we won an excessive amount of and the people don’t want us to win however the referee needs to 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 have now to maneuver on.
‘After all you could come back but at the top, when the whole lot is finished, we’re frustrated since it’s so clear, the foul.’
Your football fix
Metro‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy evaluation, transfer talk and his tackle the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.
Join here, it’s an open goal.
More to follow…
MORE: Wayne Rooney makes Joao Pedro claim ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League clash against PSG
MORE: Former Premier League manager ‘keen’ to exchange Michael Carrick at Manchester United
MORE: Ray Parlour makes Arsenal title claim ahead of Everton clash