Manchester City midfielder Rodri faces a potential suspension after the Football Association opened an investigation into his post-match comments following a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
According to BBC Sport, the governing body is reviewing remarks made by the Spanish international regarding the officiating during the closing stages of the match at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri expressed frustration after a late penalty appeal was dismissed, telling reporters, “It is the same story every week where the big decisions go against us without any clear explanation from the officials, and it is becoming impossible to accept.”
Sky Sports reports that the midfielder further questioned the integrity of the VAR process, stating, “You start to wonder if the rules are applied differently depending on the stadium or the team involved in the incident, because what we saw today was not fair.”
The 29-year-old added, “We work too hard to have points taken away by human errors that should be easily corrected by the technology available to the referees today, yet we are left standing here with nothing but excuses.”
Under FA Rule E3.1, players are prohibited from making comments that imply bias, attack the integrity of officials, or are otherwise offensive or bring the game into disrepute.
The Guardian notes that if found guilty, Rodri could face a fine or a multi-match ban, which would be a significant blow to the title defense of Manchester City.
Manager Pep Guardiola defended his player in the post-match press conference, saying, “Rodri is a professional who cares deeply about the game, and his words come from a place of immense frustration and passion for this club and the sport.”
Guardiola continued, “We respect the officials, but we also expect consistency in how the laws of the game are applied during such critical moments in the season, and right now, my players feel that consistency is missing.”
Manchester City currently sit second in the Premier League table, three points behind leaders Liverpool, and have a crucial fixture against Arsenal scheduled for next weekend.
According to Reuters, the Football Association has requested observations from both the player and the club, with a spokesperson stating, “We are aware of the comments made in the post-match media zone and are seeking observations as part of our standard disciplinary process.”
Should a ban be imposed, Rodri would likely miss the upcoming trip to the Emirates Stadium, forcing Guardiola to consider tactical adjustments in the heart of his midfield.