Rodri, Manchester City's Ballon d'Or midfielder, publicly questioned the referee's impartiality after VAR awarded Dominic Solanke's opening goal in a decision that went against the visual evidence, resulting in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
On 2 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Rodri, Manchester City's key midfielder, expressed strong dissatisfaction and questioned the referees' neutrality in the 'Sky Blues' match, suggesting that the club's past success might be influencing unfair decisions against the team recently.
The incident occurred during the Premier League match where Manchester City drew 2-2 away to Tottenham Hotspur. The visitors' first goal by Dominic Solanke drew heavy criticism after a clash with Marc Guehi before scoring. VAR took an extended time to review, including checking for offside, but ultimately confirmed the goal.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola commented that if a defender had made a similar challenge on a forward, the referee would likely have called a foul without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Rodri openly shared his feelings after the match:
“He kicked the leg, it was very clear. He blocked Marc’s path, and it was an undeniable foul. But this isn't just today; it has happened two or three games in a row now, and I don’t understand why.”
The Spanish international midfielder also made a statement that quickly went viral:
“I know we've won too much, and some people don’t want us to win anymore, but referees must be impartial. For me, it’s unfair. It’s not fair.”
Rodri’s remarks align with Guardiola’s view that inconsistent refereeing decisions are a key reason Manchester City failed to secure three points once again.
The draw in North London means Manchester City have won only one of their last six matches in all competitions. They currently stand six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal with 14 matches remaining this season.
This situation has piled pressure on the 'Sky Blues' in their title chase, both from on-field results and ongoing intense criticism over refereeing decisions.