Rodri Launches Scathing Attack on Officials After Contentious Spurs Equaliser
Manchester City's influential midfielder Rodri has unleashed a furious tirade against match officials following a highly controversial decision that allowed Tottenham Hotspur's first goal in Sunday's dramatic 2-2 Premier League draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Controversial Equaliser Sparks Fury
The Spain international expressed profound frustration after Dominic Solanke's 53rd-minute strike was allowed to stand, despite appearing to kick through the back of Marc Guehi's leg before scoring. Rodri insisted the incident represented "a clear foul" that should have been disallowed, questioning why Video Assistant Referee technology failed to intervene.
"I know 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," Rodri told Australian broadcaster Stan Sport in emotional post-match comments. "We work so hard in these situations and now to make these decisions, we have to move on."
VAR Decisions Continue to Frustrate City
This latest controversy marks the fourth consecutive match where Manchester City have felt aggrieved by VAR decisions. The Premier League champions experienced similar frustrations in January fixtures against Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Rodri highlighted the cumulative effect of these decisions, stating: "It's not today, it's two or three games in a row and I don't know why, honestly. 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."
Match Context and Official Response
Manchester City had appeared destined for victory after establishing a commanding two-goal first-half lead through strikes from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. Tottenham's spirited second-half comeback, featuring two goals credited to Solanke including a spectacular 70th-minute backheel, ultimately secured a share of the points.
The Premier League Match Centre released an official statement defending the decision: "The referee's call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the challenge by Solanke on Guehi deemed not to be a foul as Solanke played the ball. The goal accreditation panel has adjudged the goal to be a Solanke goal."
Rodri's Uncharacteristic Criticism
Notably, Rodri emphasised that his criticism represented a departure from his usual approach to officiating. "I never speak about referees, I respect their job massively, but they have to pay attention to these things," he explained. "He's kicked the leg. It's so clear, it's so clear. He anticipated the leg of Marc and it's a clear foul."
The midfielder's comments come just one week after referee Farai Hallam declined to award City a penalty against Wolves despite reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, adding to the growing sense of injustice within the Manchester City camp.
As the title race intensifies, with City failing to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to four points, Rodri's outburst highlights the increasing pressure and scrutiny surrounding officiating decisions in England's top flight. The Spain international concluded: "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."
