Manchester City key midfielder Rodri, 27, has been given a straight red card after losing control of his emotions. Rodriguez will miss City’s next three league and cup games, including the upcoming trip to Arsenal in the league, as a result of the ejection, which will go down in Premier League history.
Rodriguez started City’s 2023/24 English Premier League (EPL) Round 6 home game against Nottingham Forest at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on March 23 at 11 p.m. ET. City won 2-0 to extend their unbeaten run to six games to open the season, but Rodriguez had no smiles on his face as he was sent off in the second half.
City went into halftime with a lead thanks to goals from Phil Foden (23) and Elling Holland (23). After a dominant first half, there was an unexpected twist in the second half. In the first minute of the second half, Rodri got into an altercation with Morgan Gibbs-White (23) and was sent off for choking Gibbs-White in anger.
It happened exactly 27 seconds into the second half. According to sports statistics outlet Opta, Rodri’s sending off was the fastest second-half sending off in EPL history, dating back to the 2006/07 season. At the time, the broadcast of the game showed a score subtitle announcing the start of the second half.
The sending off was also the first of Rodri’s career. He hadn’t even accumulated a caution in 444 games for club and country, but in his 445th game, he lost his temper and created a scene he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
With Rodri off and City down to 10 men, they were desperate to hold off a late Nottingham Forest attack. Outnumbered and outplayed, the game was disrupted. In the second half, Ederson, 30, made a series of saves to secure a narrow victory.
Manager Josep Guardiola (52-Spain) was not pleased with Rodri’s behavior. “I hope Rodri learns,” he said in his post-match press conference. He should have controlled himself and his emotions. I can take a yellow card, but he didn’t,” he said, adding, “I don’t play the game, but the players who do have to be careful.” 레고토토
Rodri, meanwhile, will miss the next three league and cup games as he was sent off directly. Rodriguez will miss Newcastle United away in the EFL Carabao Cup, Wolverhampton Wanderers at home in the league, and Arsenal away in the league. Most of all, his absence from the Arsenal game is a blow to Guardiola.