Manchester City midfielder Rodri has officially apologised for comments he made after the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur last month, for which he was fined £80,000 and given a warning about his future behaviour.
In a letter to the English Football Association (FA), dated February 23, 2026, Rodri wrote:
“I would like to apologise again for the comments I made during the post-match interview against Tottenham. I fully accept that my words, as expressed, were inappropriate and did not meet the standard expected of a professional footballer.”
The Spanish midfielder stressed that he had no intention of questioning the impartiality or integrity of the referees.
“I want to make it clear that I did not intend to suggest any bias or question the integrity of match officials. I have always had and continue to have great respect for referees and the difficult job they do in a very fast-paced and high-pressure environment.”
Rodri added that his comments came in a moment of frustration after a disappointing result.
“My comments were made in a moment of frustration following a disappointing result. Upon reflection, I realize that the words I used were poorly chosen and could be interpreted in a way that was not my intention.”
The English Football Association fined the player 80,000 pounds and warned him about his future behavior.