Manchester City Star Rodri Receives Significant FA Fine for Referee Remarks
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been handed an £80,000 fine and a formal warning regarding his future conduct by the Football Association. The disciplinary action follows comments the Spanish international made criticizing match officials after his team's 2-2 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur on February 1.
The Charges and Commission Decision
The Football Association formally charged Rodri on February 13 after his post-match interview with Australian broadcaster Stan Sport. In that interview, the midfielder stated that referees "have to be neutral" and expressed frustration about officiating decisions during the match at Etihad Stadium.
Rodri admitted the charge and appeared before an independent regulatory commission. The written reasons accompanying the decision revealed that the commission was unanimous in its view that sporting sanctions, such as a playing ban, should not be imposed. The FA did not seek such sanctions in its submission to the commission.
Rodri's Controversial Comments
In his interview, Rodri expressed his frustration with what he perceived as unfair 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. It's not fair because we work so hard in these situations and now to make these decisions, we have to move on."
The midfielder continued: "Of course you need to come back but at the end, when everything is finished, we are frustrated because it's so clear, the foul." These comments formed the basis of the FA's charge against the player for bringing the game into disrepute.
Guardiola Also Facing Disciplinary Action
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola finds himself in disciplinary trouble as well. The Spanish coach is facing a two-game touchline ban after receiving his sixth yellow card of the season during Manchester City's 3-1 FA Cup victory over Newcastle United on Saturday.
The booking occurred when Guardiola confronted fourth official Lewis Smith on the touchline at St James' Park. The incident was prompted by Kieran Trippier's challenge on Jeremy Doku, which led referee Sam Barrott to take action against the City manager.
Guardiola will now have to sit out Manchester City's upcoming Premier League fixture against West Ham United and the club's FA Cup quarter-final match. The manager responded to the situation with characteristic defiance: "I will tell you something – we have all the records in this country, all of them, despite everything. We have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I want all records and now I have it."
He added: "Two-game ban now and I will go on holidays the next two games. There are things after 10 years I cannot understand. Review the action. Of course I'm going to defend Doku and all my teams."
The disciplinary issues come during a successful period for Manchester City, who progressed to the FA Cup quarter-finals with their victory over Newcastle despite making ten changes from their midweek draw with Nottingham Forest.
