Manchester City midfielder Rodri is facing a potential suspension after the FA confirmed he has been charged over controversial remarks made following the club’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
On 1 February, Pep Guardiola’s side travelled to London expecting a routine win against an injury-hit Spurs team. Instead, the match turned into a tough contest, with Tottenham battling back to claim a 2-2 draw after first-half goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo had put City in control.
After the final whistle, Rodri, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, stirred controversy by criticising referee Robert Jones over a key decision. The FA has since confirmed that the Spain international has been charged for his comments.
The main flashpoint came in the second half when Spurs striker Dominic Solanke applied pressure on defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi, resulting in Guehi inadvertently putting the ball into his own net. Rodri insisted the goal should have been disallowed, arguing that Solanke had fouled the defender in the build-up.
In his post-match comments, Rodri described the alleged foul as “obvious” and suggested that such decisions have a major impact at the highest level. He also implied that officials must remain neutral, adding that it is frustrating when key moments go against his team despite their hard work.
Those remarks, particularly the suggestion of bias, sparked widespread debate and led to formal action from the FA.
In a statement, the FA confirmed that Rodri has been charged with misconduct under FA Rule 3.1 for comments that allegedly implied bias and/or questioned the integrity of match officials. He has until 18 February to respond, after which an independent panel will assess the case. A suspension is considered a likely outcome.
A comparable situation arose in 2023, when then-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was handed a touchline ban after suggesting referee Paul Tierney was prejudiced against his side.
