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LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Rodri of Manchester City claps the fans after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on September 21, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) — Michael Carrick was appointed interim Manchester United boss in January (Image credit: Getty Images)

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has discovered his punishment for comments he made about referee Robert Jones following his side’s draw at Tottenham last month.

The Spanish international had suggested that Jones was not ’neutral’ following the 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 1 and was subsequently charged by the FA.

The FA have confirmed that Rodri admitted that he “acted 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".

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Rodri learns FA punishment

The FA have now doled out a punishment to Rodri, who has been fined £80,000 - but crucially for Pep Guardiola’s side - has not been issued with a suspension of any kind.

Rodri’s comments came after a Dominic Solanke goal was not chalked off after the Spurs striker appeared to kick through the leg of City centre-back Marc Guehi.

Referee Rob Jones will oversee proceedings at Old Trafford — Rodri questioned referee Rob Jones following the draw at Spurs (Image credit: Getty Images)

In his post-match interview, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner said: “I know we won too much and the people don't want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral.

"It's not fair because we work so hard. When everything is finished, you are frustrated."

According to the FA’s regulatory commission, Rodri sent two letters as poart of his defence, the first of which claimed that his words were "misunderstood and misinterpreted by some media organisations”.

The 59-time Spain international would admit in his second letter that these words were "inappropriate and fell below the standard expected".

In that letter, he wrote: “I wish to make clear that I did not intend to imply bias or question the integrity of the match officials.

Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante of Manchester City looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on September 18, 2025. (Photo by Ciro De Luca/NurPhoto via Getty Images) — Rodri will not miss any games following his comments (Image credit: Getty Images)

"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."

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For more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.

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