Breaking News: Rodri Faces Severe Punishment in the Premier League

The Football Association (FA) has officially accused midfielder Rodri after his controversial comments implying unfair refereeing in the disputed draw between Manchester City and Tottenham.

The incident originated from the 2-2 draw between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur that took place on February 1, 2026. Despite taking a two-goal lead thanks to Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo, the defending champions were held to a draw after Spurs staged a comeback. The focus of outrage was on the goal that reduced the deficit, where Dominic Solanke appeared to have made contact with defender Marc Guehi’s leg before the ball went into the net.

Despite VAR intervention, the goal stood. Frustrated by referee Robert Jones’s decision, captain Rodri openly criticized the call in a post-match interview.

The Ballon d’Or winner stated: “I know we have won too much and people don’t want us to win, but the referee must be fair.” He emphasized that Solanke’s foul was very clear and that this injustice undermines the entire team’s efforts.

Rodri’s comments implying referee bias against Manchester City immediately drew the attention of the governing body. Today, an FA spokesperson confirmed that the Spanish midfielder has been charged with breaching Rule 3.1.

The statement specified: “The midfielder behaved inappropriately by making remarks suggesting partiality and questioning the integrity of the referee.” The FA believes Rodri crossed the line by insinuating that the league is deliberately preventing Man City’s winning streak through on-field decisions.

Rodri’s deadline is Wednesday, February 18, 2026 to submit an official reply. After this date, an independent panel will convene to deliver the final verdict.

If found guilty, the most likely penalty for Rodri is a suspension. A precedent occurred in 2023 when Jurgen Klopp was banned for similar comments targeting referee Paul Tierney. Losing this midfield "heart" for crucial upcoming matches against Newcastle (February 21) and Leeds (February 27) would be a significant blow to Pep Guardiola’s title ambitions.

Rodri maintains that small details will determine the fate of the entire competition: “We must pay attention to these small details, or it will be very difficult for everyone.” However, it is precisely these "small details" from his spontaneous remarks that now put him at risk of missing key matches during the critical phase of the season.