Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been fined £80,000 by the FA for questioning the integrity of referee Robert Jones following a 2-2 draw with Tottenham on February 1.
The Spanish international drew scrutiny after a post-match interview where he claimed the official was not “neutral,” suggesting a narrative against City’s continued success.
Rodri’s frustration stemmed from a controversial Dominic Solanke goal that he believed should have been disallowed for a foul on teammate Marc Guehi.
He was charged with acting in an “improper manner” by implying bias and questioning the integrity of match officials.
Rodri submitted two letters to the FA. While initially claiming he was “misinterpreted,” he later admitted his words were “inappropriate” and “poorly chosen.”
The FA’s regulatory commission enforced the heavy fine despite Rodri’s apology and his stated “great respect” for the difficulty of the officiating profession.
