Manchester City midfielder Rodri was fined 80,000 pounds ($107,000) but avoided a ban on Monday over comments he made after a Premier League match in which he questioned the integrity of a referee.
After City’s 2–2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on 1 February, Rodri said: «We’ve won too much and people don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. Lihat juga rfv8. And for me, to be honest, it’s not fair, it’s not fair.»
Rodri was outraged by referee Robert Jones’ decision to allow Dominic Solanke’s goal to stand.
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He said Solanke’s goal should have been disallowed because the Tottenham forward kicked the back of City defender Marc Guehi’s leg while scoring.
The Football Association said Rodri admitted during an independent hearing that he “acted inappropriately during a post-match media interview by making comments implying bias and/or questioning the integrity of a match official and/or match officials.”
In addition to the fine, Rodri – who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or – was warned about his future conduct.
In 2023, then Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was handed a touchline ban after suggesting referee Paul Tierney had “something against” his side.
With input from AFP
Published on March 9, 2026
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