Rodri is facing a potential ban after the Manchester City metronome was charged with misconduct by the FA for allegedly questioning the integrity of referees.
The Spain international seethed at the standard of officiating following City’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham earlier in the month by claiming that ‘people don’t want us to win’ and demanding neutrality.
Rodri had said that it was ‘not possible’ that referee Robert Jones and the VAR awarded Tottenham’s first goal after Dominic Solanke made contact with Marc Guehi before the ball hit the net.
‘He’s kicked the leg – it’s so clear,’ Rodri said. ‘He anticipated Marc and it’s a clear foul. But it’s not today, it’s two or three games in a row and I honestly don’t know why.
‘I know we won too much and the people don’t want us to win but the referee has to be neutral. For me it’s not fair. It’s not fair.’
The language used saw the FA investigate Rodri, who now has until February 18 to respond after being found to have allegedly ‘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’.
Rodri suggested Man City’s past success has influenced referees in not being fair towards them
The City star was fuming with Dominic Solanke’s first goal in their 2-2 draw at Spurs
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was handed a two-match ban and a £75,000 fine for insisting that Paul Tierney ‘had something against’ his team three years ago.
That was considered to be a ‘particularly serious’ breach and showed a ‘very aggressive nature’. It remains to be seen how Rodri’s outburst is measured against that.
Fulham’s Marco Silva has also previously been handed a ban. Both men had previous indiscretions that the commission took into account.
Rodri’s manager, Pep Guardiola, was also outspoken in the immediate aftermath of the Spurs draw and insisted that a foul would have been awarded had it been a defender on an attacker.
‘It’s happened, once again,’ Guardiola said. ‘What can I say? Marc has the ball, he’s been kicked from behind, and it’s a goal. So what can I say? Nothing. One more.
‘If you do it to a striker it would be a penalty. I’m not a referee. Fascinating in the Premier League.’
