Manchester City Midfielder Rodri Hit with £80,000 Fine Following Allegations of Match Official Bias

The FA fines Manchester City's Rodri £80,000 for questioning referee integrity following a controversial VAR decision in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 12:19 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from CNA

FA Imposes Heavy Fine on Manchester City Star

The Football Association has taken decisive action against Manchester City’s Rodri, imposing an £80,000 ($107,000) fine following his critical remarks toward officiating staff. The 29-year-old Spain international was penalized on Monday for comments made in the wake of a 2-2 Premier League draw against Tottenham Hotspur. In addition to the financial penalty, the FA issued a formal warning regarding his future conduct, emphasizing that public statements implying referee bias or lack of integrity will not be tolerated.

The Catalyst: A Controversial VAR Review

The disciplinary proceedings stemmed from an incident involving Spurs striker Dominic Solanke and City defender Marc Guehi. Rodri was visibly incensed when Solanke’s goal was allowed to stand despite the striker appearing to kick through the back of Guehi's leg. While the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the play and determined no foul was committed, Rodri used his post-match media obligations to voice his frustration, suggesting that external factors were influencing the referee's neutrality.

Questioning Official Integrity and Neutrality

The FA’s statement clarified that the midfielder acted in an "improper manner" during his interview. Rodri had suggested that Manchester City’s historical success—specifically winning four consecutive titles—had created a climate where officials were no longer impartial. "I know we won too much and the people don't want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral," Rodri stated. The FA argued these comments directly questioned the integrity of Robert Jones and his officiating team, a violation of the league's media conduct policies.