Manchester City midfielder Rodri has voiced his frustration over recent refereeing decisions, suggesting that the officials are not impartially applying the rules. The 28-year-old Spaniard was particularly upset about Tottenham's equalizer at the Etihad Stadium, which he claimed should have been disallowed due to a foul by Spurs' Dominic Solanke on City defender Marc Guéhi.
Solanke's goal, which put his team ahead and ultimately sealed a 2-2 draw, was allowed to stand despite Rodri's protests. The midfielder acknowledged that the situation had become increasingly partisan, with fans seemingly determined to see Manchester City lose. "I know we won too much and the people don't want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral," he said. "It's not fair because we work so hard."
Rodri was joined in his criticism by manager Pep Guardiola, who felt that several recent decisions had gone against Manchester City. The club's coach expressed frustration about a number of incidents, including an Antoine Semenyo goal being ruled out at Newcastle and Diogo Dalot avoiding a red card against Manchester United.
The midfielder also referenced the controversy surrounding a penalty claim by Manchester City against Wolves. "When everything is finished, you are frustrated," Rodri admitted. "He kicked the leg, it's so clear … It's two, three games in a row and I don't know why." Despite his reservations about refereeing decisions, Rodri stressed that he respects the officials' job and acknowledges their importance to the game.
The comments from Rodri and Guardiola highlight the growing perception that referees are being unfairly influenced by the outcome of matches. As Manchester City continue to fight for the Premier League title, they will be eager to see a more impartial application of the rules and an end to what they see as a clear bias against their team.
Solanke's goal, which put his team ahead and ultimately sealed a 2-2 draw, was allowed to stand despite Rodri's protests. The midfielder acknowledged that the situation had become increasingly partisan, with fans seemingly determined to see Manchester City lose. "I know we won too much and the people don't want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral," he said. "It's not fair because we work so hard."
Rodri was joined in his criticism by manager Pep Guardiola, who felt that several recent decisions had gone against Manchester City. The club's coach expressed frustration about a number of incidents, including an Antoine Semenyo goal being ruled out at Newcastle and Diogo Dalot avoiding a red card against Manchester United.
The midfielder also referenced the controversy surrounding a penalty claim by Manchester City against Wolves. "When everything is finished, you are frustrated," Rodri admitted. "He kicked the leg, it's so clear … It's two, three games in a row and I don't know why." Despite his reservations about refereeing decisions, Rodri stressed that he respects the officials' job and acknowledges their importance to the game.
The comments from Rodri and Guardiola highlight the growing perception that referees are being unfairly influenced by the outcome of matches. As Manchester City continue to fight for the Premier League title, they will be eager to see a more impartial application of the rules and an end to what they see as a clear bias against their team.
I'm telling you, something fishy is going on here... Rodri's frustration is legit, but it's like he's scratching the surface of the real issue 
. These refereeing decisions are not just bad luck or incompetent officials – there's a pattern to it. Think about it, whenever Manchester City wins (which is most of the time 
), they're always getting screwed over by the refs. And when they lose, the calls go in their favor 
. It's like the system is stacked against them. And don't even get me started on Pep Guardiola's comments – he's not just talking about refereeing decisions, he's talking about a conspiracy to undermine his team's chances of winning. 
i mean im all for fair play but cant u just stay neutral? 
i was watching this game with my mates last wknd and espn america said the ref made 2 bad calls that changed the outcome of the game... like what even is the protocol there tho? 
. I mean, can you blame them? They're trying their best on the pitch, but it feels like the refs are already leaning against them. It's not just about Manchester City though, it's a bigger issue for the whole league. We need more neutrals in those refereeing booths so everyone gets a fair shake 
️. Maybe if they can get that sorted out, Rodri and Pep (and all the other teams) can focus on winning games without all the drama 
! Rodri's right tho, it's not fair that city's losing streak keeps getting messed with. i mean, come on, 2-3 games in a row and the refs are still finding ways to favor the opposition? it's like they're trying to help spurs or something 
. pep's right too, the whole thing is getting so partisan, fans are literally booing city when they're winning 
. can't say i blame em tho, we have been playing some good football lately 
referees have to stay neutral but it's getting harder to spot when ppl r cheering for one side over another 
like what happened with that pen claim btw 
Refereeing in England is so sketchy right now 
. The fact that Pep and Rodri are speaking out about it is a good sign though 
, maybe someone's gonna shake things up 
I've seen those Premier League games with my grandma back in 2018 and it was a whole lot more chill 
.
. But at the same time, you gotta respect their job and all... just wish they could make some more consistent decisions 
. Can't we just have a neutral referee for once? 
.
.
. Fingers crossed!
