Rodri charged by FA over referee comments after Tottenham draw

Rodri has been charged by the Football Association following his post-match comments about refereeing after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham earlier this month.

The Manchester City midfielder now faces the possibility of a suspension after the FA confirmed he has been charged with misconduct. He has until Wednesday 18 February to respond.

The charge relates to comments Rodri made after City surrendered a 2-0 lead at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in early February.

Spurs began their comeback when Dominic Solanke’s effort was awarded following a VAR review, despite City protests over a challenge on Marc Guehi in the build-up. Solanke later scored again to complete the turnaround, with City dropping two points in the Premier League title race.

Speaking after the match, Rodri expressed frustration with the officiating.

“I know we won too much and the people don’t want us to win but the referee has to be neutral and for me honestly, it’s not fair,” he said.

“It’s so clear the foul. He kicked the leg and of course with the push of the action on the ball, the ball goes in. We have to pay attention to these little things otherwise it’s going to be difficult for everyone.”

The FA statement reads: “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 question the integrity of a match official and/or match officials, contrary to FA Rule 3.1.”

Under FA regulations, players can face fines or match bans if found to have breached rules concerning comments about match officials.

An independent regulatory panel will decide any sanction after reviewing Rodri’s response. At this stage, no punishment has been confirmed.

City are due to host Newcastle United on 21 February before travelling to Leeds United on 27 February in the Premier League. Any suspension would depend on the timing and outcome of the FA process.

Manchester City remain firmly involved in the title race, and Rodri continues to be a key figure in Pep Guardiola’s midfield structure.

Losing him, even for a short period, could have competitive implications. However, it remains too early to determine whether a ban will follow.

Rodri must submit his response by 18 February. The FA will then refer the case to an independent panel, who will determine whether any sanction is warranted.

Until that ruling is made, he remains available for selection.

Should players be sanctioned for questioning refereeing decisions post-match?