Keith Hackett has insisted Rodri should have been sent off by referee Simon Hooper as Man City ran out 4-1 winners against Liverpool on Saturday (1 April).
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted there was “no question” that the 26-year-old should have been dismissed.
As seen in footage from Sky Sports (3 April), Rodri avoided a second yellow card for his cynical challenge on Cody Gakpo as the Liverpool forward raced towards the Man City goal.
That is despite the Spain international receiving his caution for a similar challenge on Diogo Jota just minutes earlier.
Liverpool players surrounded referee Hooper in an attempt to persuade him a yellow was the correct outcome, but Rodri survived all 90 minutes.
Man City’s 4-1 win over Jurgen Klopp’s side ensured they maintained their gap of eight points to Arsenal when the day’s fixtures were over.
Hackett told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I think he was very lucky.
“The thinking with referees is that the second yellow has to be more of an orange card. That shouldn’t be the case.
“This was a foul, for which Hooper awarded a free-kick. It was a pullback, the hands are on the body – it’s a caution every day.
“Some people will say that’s harsh, but not for me.
“If he wasn’t on a booking, he would have been shown a yellow card. In law, it is required.
“He should have gone, there’s no question.”
