Man City: Rodri escapes ban after raging at officials after Dominic Solanke's goal for Tottenham

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has escaped a ban for hitting out at officials following his side's 2-2 draw at Tottenham last month.

The Spain international launched an extraordinary outburst against the decision to allow a Dominic Solanke goal, which sparked Spurs' comeback.

However, an independent regulatory commission has imposed an £80,000 fine and warning for his future conduct following a hearing.

Rodri admitted the charge against him of acting in an improper manner during a post-match media interview by making comments that imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official and/or match officials, contrary to FA Rule E3.1.

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Tottenham forward Solanke appeared to kick through the back of Marc Guehi's leg to score and even though VAR reviewed the incident, it deemed no foul was committed.

Rodri told Australian broadcaster Stan Sport after the game: "But it's not today, it's two or three games in a row and I don't know why, honestly. We won too much and the people don't want us to win but the referee has to be neutral and for me, honestly, it's not fair."

It is those words which the commission investigated. In the FA's submission, they reiterated they provide guidance to players at the start of each season to not 'imply bias or attack the integrity of the match officials (including the VAR officials)'.

The FA told the investigation the remarks 'went beyond criticism of the individual decisions and instead conveyed an implication that the match officials were not acting neutrally and a suggestion that decisions were influenced by external or improper considerations, rather than honest error or mistake'.

In Rodri's written observations, dated February 10, he stated he recognised the difficulty of the job for officials and that in his interview he made clear the respect he has for their job. He wrote: "... it is therefore deeply unfortunate that my words have been misunderstood and misinterpreted by some media organisations."

Rodri cited the decision not to send off Manchester United's Diogo Dalot for a challenge on Jeremy Doku and a disallowed Antonie Semenyo goal in a Carabao Cup tie with Newcastle as previous incidents he was referencing.

He added: "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."

In a second letter sent to the commission, dated February 23, Rodri wrote: "I would like to apologise again for the comments I made... I fully accept that my words, as expressed, were inappropriate and fell below the standard expected of me as a professional player."

In that second letter he again reiterated that he did not "imply bias or question the integrity of the match officials". He added: "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."

Manchester City noted to the commission that in previous cases involving Frank Lampard, Marco Silva and Chris Wilder concerning media comments said to imply bias or question the integrity of match officials, the commission had imposed financial penalties rather than sporting sanctions.

Rodri's explosive interview

Rodri also said during the interview: "It's not fair because we work so hard in these situations and now to make these decisions, we have to move on.

"Of course you need to come back but at the end, when everything is finished, we are frustrated because the foul is so clear. He kicked the leg and of course with the push of the action on the ball, the ball goes in.

"We have to pay attention to these little things, otherwise it's going to be difficult for everyone because this league is like this - it's about small details and everything counts, so I think today is a very tough day for us in this sense."

Debatable VAR decisions went against City in matches with Newcastle, Manchester United and Wolves in January.

City were denied a goal by VAR in their 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle and then Dalot avoided a red card for a challenge on Doku as Pep Guardiola's side lost the Manchester derby.

And Rodri - a week on from referee Farai Hallam declining to award City a penalty against Wolves despite being told to review the incident on the pitchside monitor - fumed at this latest decision.

He said: "I don't know how to feel. Now I see the images. On the pitch you don't see. It's a clear foul in the first action of the goal.

"It's a clear foul and VAR is [there] for a reason. These small details make the difference. We're trying to do our best, it's the first goal they scored and maybe if they don't score the goal, we win the game.

"It's one game and another game and it's not possible. And honestly I never speak about referees, I respect their job massively, but they have to pay attention to these things. He's kicked the leg. It's so clear.

"He anticipated the leg of Marc and it's a clear foul, but it's not today, it's two or three games in a row and I don't know why, honestly."

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