<figure id="attachment_3141413" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3141413" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3141413" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/f42a235a-rodri-22082025.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3141413" class="wp-caption-text">Rodri has until Feb 18 to respond to the charge, with the potential for a suspension if he is found guilty. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
LONDON: Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been charged by the English Football Association after saying referees have to be &#8220;neutral&#8221; following his side&#8217;s controversial clash with Tottenham.
Rodri was incensed with referee Robert Jones&#8217; decision to allow Dominic Solanke&#8217;s goal in City&#8217;s 2-2 draw at Tottenham in the Premier League on Feb 1.
He felt Solanke&#8217;s goal should have been ruled out because the Tottenham striker kicked the back of City defender Marc Guehi&#8217;s leg in the act of scoring.
&#8220;I know we won too much and the people don&#8217;t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral,&#8221; Rodri told an Australian broadcaster after Tottenham fought back from two goals down.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not fair because we work so hard. When everything is finished, you are frustrated.&#8221;
The FA announced on Friday that the 29-year-old had been charged with misconduct over his remarks.
&#8220;It&#8217;s alleged that the midfielder acted in an improper manner during a post-match media interview by making comments that imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official and/or match officials, contrary to FA Rule 3.1,&#8221; an FA statement said.
Rodri has until Feb 18 to respond to the charge, with the potential for a suspension if he is found guilty.
That would be a major blow to City&#8217;s hopes of overhauling the four-point gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal.
In 2023, then Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was handed a touchline ban after suggesting referee Paul Tierney had &#8220;something against&#8221; his side.

MatchPoint Times

Man City’s Rodri charged over ref rant

Rodri was incensed with referee Robert Jones’ decision to allow Dominic Solanke’s goal in Manchester City’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham on Feb 1.

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