The Football Association (FA) has issued an £80,000 fine to Manchester City midfielder Rodri following comments made about officiating. The disciplinary action relates to remarks the Spanish international made after a 1-1 Premier League draw against Tottenham Hotspur in February, according to Sky Sports.
Rodri claimed that the referee was not "neutral" during the fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. An independent regulatory commission found the comments constituted improper conduct as they implied bias and attacked the integrity of the official, per The Guardian. The midfielder admitted to a breach of FA Rule E3.1 during the hearing.
Manchester City currently sit in second place in the Premier League table behind Liverpool, following their most recent match. The club has not confirmed if they will appeal the financial penalty. Rodri remains available for selection for the upcoming Manchester derby, as the sanction does not include a match suspension, according to The Athletic. The FA warned the player regarding his future conduct.
