Manchester City midfielder Rodri faces disciplinary action after being charged by the FA for comments made about referees following the draw at Tottenham.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Rodri faces a possible ban after being accused of misconduct by The FA for comments questioning the neutrality of the match referees after city of manchester2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
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The City midfielder reacted angrily to the decision to concede Spurs’ first goal, scored by Dominic Solanke after contact with Marc Guehiwith referee Robert Jones and the VAR allowing him to stay on his feet. The Spaniard suggested there was a broader pattern in recent matches.
“He kicked his leg, it’s very clear,” Rodri said. “It’s a clear foul. But it’s not today, it’s two or three games in a row and I honestly don’t know why. I know we won too much and people don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. For me it’s not fair.”
He first divisionThe Key Match Incident Panel subsequently backed the decision to award the goal 4-1 and also Voted unanimously that Rodri should have been expelled in the same match after avoiding a second yellow card.
talking to sport After City lost a 2-0 lead, Rodri continued his criticism. “Honestly, I don’t know how to feel,” he said. “Now I see the images, in the clear field that cannot be seen, basically a foul in the first action of the goal, it is a clear foul! And the VAR has a reason, and these small details make the difference.
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“It’s a game, and another game, and another game. It’s not possible.
“But it’s not (just) today, it’s only two, three games in a row, and I don’t know why, honestly,” Rodri added.
“I know we won too much and people just don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. And for me, honestly, it’s not fair.
“We need to be fair in these situations. It’s not just one, because everyone can (make) a mistake, we all have mistakes, we don’t worry about one. But when it’s one, two, three, four in a row… it’s not possible.”
The FA guidelines allow action to be taken in cases of “any comment which implies or appears to allege bias on the part of a match referee”, and comments suggesting referees are not neutral or influencing sporting results can also be considered to bring the game into disrepute.
Rodri has until Wednesday to respond to the allegation, and the prospect of a major suspension now hangs over a key figure in City’s midfield.