Man City: Rodri rages against referees and VAR after Dominic Solanke goal for Tottenham
Rodri angered by VAR's decision not to rule out goal given to Dominic Solanke after apparent foul; Man City gave up 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at Tottenham and fall six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal
Tuesday 3 February 2026 23:45, UK
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has launched an extraordinary outburst against the decision to allow Tottenham's first goal in their 2-2 draw on Sunday to stand.
Tottenham forward Solanke appeared to kick through the back of Marc Guehi's leg to score and even though VAR reviewed the incident, it deemed no foul was committed.
Debatable VAR decisions went against City in matches with Newcastle, Manchester United and Wolves in January, and Rodri was livid that Solanke's first goal - which appeared to be an own-goal by Guehi - was permitted to stand.
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The Spain midfielder told Australian broadcaster Stan Sport: "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.
"It's not fair because we work so hard in these situations and now to make these decisions, we have to move on.
"Of course you need to come back but at the end, when everything is finished, we are frustrated because the foul is so clear. He kicked the leg and of course with the push of the action on the ball, the ball goes in.
"We have to pay attention to these little things, otherwise it's going to be difficult for everyone because 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."
City were denied a goal by VAR in their 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Newcastle and then Diogo Dalot avoided a red card for a challenge on Jeremy Doku as Pep Guardiola's side lost the Manchester derby.
And Rodri - a week on from referee Farai Hallam declining to award City a penalty against Wolves despite being told to review the incident on the pitchside monitor - fumed at this latest decision.
He said: "I don't know how to feel. Now I see the images. On the pitch you don't see. It's a clear foul in the first action of the goal.
"It's a clear foul and VAR is [there] for a reason. 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.
"It's one game and another game and it's not possible. And honestly I never speak about referees, I respect their job massively, but they have to pay attention to these things. He's kicked the leg. It's so clear.
"He anticipated the leg of Marc and it's a clear foul, but it's not today, it's two or three games in a row and I don't know why, honestly."
A statement by Premier League Match Centre on Sunday read: "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."
Pep: No conspiracy, but referees are affecting us
Guardiola himself later dismissed suggestions of a refereeing conspiracy against City but insists recent decisions have impacted their results.
The manager has highlighted a number of calls he feels have gone against his side in what has been a frustrating start to 2026.
Guardiola said: "Let me be clear, the situation that we are in the Premier League absolutely belongs to us.
"I'm not suspicious - absolutely not. Of course there aren't meetings between the referees about how they can punish Man City. I've never said that.
"But the images are there. You can agree or disagree."
Referring specifically to Solanke's first goal on Sunday, he added: "People are saying that the laws say the right decision was given, but [one] guy was interesting by saying 'it was a foul' and now saying 'after watching more and more, it's not'.
"I don't know, I'm not a referee and never will be, but Marc has the ball under control and is kicked from behind and makes an own goal. Solanke didn't score - Marc scored.
"He was kicked and a goal. If people believe this should be allowed then it is fine. I'm not in agreement but nothing changes."
