Rodri Charged with Misconduct Following Referee Comments

omidbasir- Rodri expressed his discontent with officiating standards in a post-match interview after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham earlier this month, stating, “the referee has to be neutral.”

The Football Association has since charged the 29-year-old midfielder with misconduct. The charge stems from Rodri’s remarks regarding referee Robert Jones, which he made following the controversial goal by Dominic Solanke that was allowed despite what Rodri deemed a foul on City defender Marc Guehi.

Rodri’s frustration was evident as he remarked, “I know we win too much, and people don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. It’s not fair because we work so hard. When everything is finished, you are frustrated.”

The FA did not specify which comments led to the charge, but it accuses Rodri of acting in an “improper manner” that implies bias and questions the integrity of match officials. He has until February 18 to respond to the allegations.

In the match held on February 1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, City initially led 2-0 at halftime. However, Solanke’s goal in the 53rd minute shifted momentum, allowing Spurs to equalize less than 20 minutes later. Rodri noted that the first goal scored by Solanke might have been a turning point in determining the match’s outcome, stating, “If they don’t score this goal, we win the game.”

Rodri also highlighted ongoing concerns regarding officiating, claiming his team has consistently suffered from poor referee decisions throughout the season, where they currently sit second in the Premier League, trailing Arsenal by four points.

He stated, “It’s one game after another, and it’s not possible. I respect referees’ jobs massively, but they need to pay attention to these situations. He (Solanke) clearly kicked the leg; it’s so obvious… It’s happened in two or three games in a row, and I don’t understand why.”

In related news, a five-member panel from the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel (KMI) unanimously agreed that Rodri should have received a red card during the same match for a second bookable offense after a foul on Wilson Odobert in the dying moments of the game. The panel emphasized that it was a “clear foul by Rodri which stops a promising attack,” which warranted a second yellow card.

This incident marks the third time this season that referee Robert Jones has failed to issue a second yellow card. The KMI Panel also upheld the decision to allow Solanke’s first goal against City with a vote of 4:1, asserting that the Tottenham striker kicked the ball prior to making contact with Guehi.