Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been fined £80,000 by the The Football Association(FA) over remarks he made about a referee after Manchester City’s 2–2 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur last month.
The sanction followed comments the Spain international made about referee Robert Jones after the February 1 clash.
Rodri criticised the officiating during a post-match interview after Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke scored a controversial goal that Manchester City players believed should have been ruled out.
City players argued that Solanke had kicked through the leg of defender Marc Guehi in the build-up, but the goal was allowed to stand.
Rodri said: “I know we won 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.”
Following the interview, the FA charged the midfielder with acting in an improper manner during a post-match media appearance, stating that his remarks implied bias and questioned the integrity of match officials.
Rodri admitted the charge and accepted that his comments fell below the standard expected of players.
As part of the disciplinary process, he submitted two letters explaining his remarks.
Rodri said: “I wish to make clear that I did not intend to imply bias or question the integrity of the match officials.
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“I have always had, and continue to have, great respect for referees and the difficult job they undertake in a fast-moving and highly pressured environment.
“My comments were made in a moment of frustration after a disappointing result.
“Upon reflection, I recognise that the words I used were poorly chosen and capable of being interpreted in a way that I did not intend.”
An independent regulatory commission ruled that the threshold for a sporting sanction had not been met, meaning Rodri will not face a playing suspension.
The commission said it was unanimous in deciding that a financial penalty of £80,000 was an appropriate sanction.
