Manchester City midfielder Rodri has avoided a match suspension but received an £80,000 fine from the Football Association (FA) following an investigation into his controversial comments regarding match officials.
An independent Regulatory Commission reached the decision on Monday after a misconduct charge was brought against the Spanish international. The inquiry centred on Rodri’s post-match interview following City's 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on February 1, 2026, in which he questioned the neutrality of the refereeing.
The FA alleged that Rodri’s remarks breached Rule E3.1 by implying bias and questioning the integrity of officials. During the heated interview, the 29-year-old midfielder claimed, "I know we won too much and the people don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral." He was visibly frustrated by a decision to allow a goal by Dominic Solanke despite a suspected foul on defender Marc Guéhi.
In its official statement on March 9, the FA confirmed the sanctions, noting that while the behaviour was improper, it did not warrant a playing ban. "The Commission were unanimous in their view that the threshold had not been met for a playing sanction to be imposed," the FA statement read. The initial proposed fine of £120,000 was reduced to £80,000 due to mitigating factors, including the player’s early admission of guilt and his previous clean disciplinary record.
Rodri issued a formal apology alongside the ruling, clarifying that his words were born of immediate post-match emotion. "I fully accept that my words, as expressed, were inappropriate," Rodri stated. "I wish to make clear that I did not intend to imply bias or question the integrity of the match officials."
The ruling is a significant boost for manager Pep Guardiola as Manchester City continues a tight Premier League title pursuit. Rodri remains eligible for crucial upcoming fixtures, including a pivotal clash with league leaders Arsenal. Currently, City trails the North London side by seven points but holds a game in hand as the season enters its final stretch.