Man City star Rodri shows true colours in FA hearing as case details emerge - 'I meant'

Manchester City star has avoided a ban for his comments after the draw with Tottenham with the midfielder explaining his interview

Manchester City star Rodri has apologised for the comments he made after the Blues' draw with Tottenham last month after explaining his thought process behind the outburst.

The midfielder spoke immediately after the game, where City had blown a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2. City were frustrated that Dominic Solanke's goal had been allowed to stand, feeling there was a foul by the Spurs striker on Marc Guehi. The officials gave the goal on the field and VAR did not intervene.

Rodri was subsequently charged by the Football Association and was fined £80,000. He avoided a ban with the written reasons released by the FA explaining that the 29-year-old co-operated throughout the process, admitted the charge in full at the earliest opportunity, did not repeat the comments in other post-match media interviews and has no previous disciplinary issues in relation to misconduct charges and comments to the media.

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The written reasons also included an explanation from Rodri as to some of the comments he made after the game, with the midfielder offering context to his quotes.

In the post match interview Rodri said: "But it's not today, it's two, three games in a row. And I don't know why honestly."

Explaining that comment in the written reasons, Rodri wrote: "We have experienced some other occasions in our recent matches where I believe decisions have been incorrect.

"For example, the bad foul by Diogo Dalot on Doku in our match at Manchester United which should have been a red card, and Semenyo's disallowed goal at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. I don't have an explanation as to why the mistakes have happened."

The Spaniard also said: "We won too much and the people, they don't want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral."

Explaining that comment in the written reasons, Rodri wrote: "There are, of course, more people who don't support Man City than do.

"Naturally, supporters of other clubs who have witnessed our success in recent years will not want to see that success continue.

"That thought process doesn't apply to referees, who are professionally neutral in performing their roles. I did not say that referees are not neutral (as the media articles you have sent to me wrongly suggest). I meant that this can be ruled out as an explanation as to why referee mistakes have happened recently."

Finally, Rodri said in his post match interview: “And for me, honestly, it’s not fair, it’s not fair.”

Explaining that comment in the written reasons, Rodri wrote: "It doesn’t feel fair when the ultimate result of a match is influenced by an incorrect decision rather than just the performance of the team."

While the City man was keen to offer further context to his initial interview, he did acknowledge that they could have been interpreted in a way he did not attend.

He said: "I would like to apologise again for the comments I made during my post-match interview following the fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on 1 February 2026. I fully accept that my words, as expressed, were inappropriate and fell below the standard expected of me as a professional.

"I wish to make clear that I did not intend to imply bias or question the integrity of the match officials. I have always had, and continue to have, great respect for referees and the difficult job they undertake in a fast-moving and highly pressured environment.

"My comments were made in a moment of frustration after a disappointing result. Upon reflection, I recognise that the words I used were poorly chosen and capable of being interpreted in a way that I did not intend."