Rodri: Man City defender fined £80,000 for referee comments

Rodri said after the game, “I know we won a lot and people don’t want us to win, but the referee has to remain neutral.”

“It’s not fair because we work so hard. When it all comes to an end, you get disappointed.”

The FA’s Regulatory Commission said Rodri sent two letters as part of his evidence.

In the first letter, he said his words were “misunderstood and misinterpreted by some media organisations,” but in the second, he admitted they were “inappropriate” and below the expected standard.

“I want to clarify that it was not my intention to show bias or to question the integrity of the match officials,” Rodri wrote in a second letter.

“I have and will always have immense respect for referees and the difficult job they do in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.

“My comments were made in a moment of frustration after a disappointing result.

“Upon reflection, I realise that the words I used were poorly chosen and capable of being interpreted in a way that I did not intend.”