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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray

'It's a mess' — Rodri gives verdict on two VAR decisions in Man City draw vs FC Copenhagen

Rodri has addressed the on-field confusion from two controversial VAR decisions in Manchester City's draw against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League.

The Spaniard thought he had given City the lead after ten minutes when he rifled in a beauty from the edge of the area on the half-volley. However, after celebrating, the referee was advised to review a potential handball against Riyad Mahrez in the build-up, and he eventually disallowed the goal.

Mahrez was under pressure from two defenders, and could do little to move his arm out of the way before finding Julian Alvarez, who set up Rodri, but the referee decided that was enough to award a Copenhagen free kick.

ALSO READ: UEFA rule shows Rodri goal for Man City vs Copenhagen should have been allowed

Later, after Mahrez had missed a penalty from a similarly-poor handball decision, Sergio Gomez saw red as the last man for bringing down Hakon Arnar Haraldsson 20 yards out. Initially referee Artur Dias waved play-on, but reversed his decision and brandished a red card after another monitor check.

Reflecting on the decisions, starting with his disallowed goal, Rodri told BT Sport: "A bit frustrated of course, I think no-one realised what was happening. Suddenly apparently it is handball.

"I don't know if it's intentional or not, honestly in a fight. It is what it is, we respect the decision, it's a mess. We have a penalty, we miss, then the red card comes and changes the game."

Speaking on Gomez's red, Rodri admitted he didn't know whether the decision was right, but appeared frustrated that the referee again had to reverse his decision. "There's two options, if he thinks there's enough contact, the game has to go on," he said.

"If he thinks there is contact. I don't know the rules for a red card. If he grabs outside the box? Of course. If it's a foul it's a red card. I didn't see again so I don't know."

With ten men, City battled hard and earned a point to move closer to a Champions League knock-out place, and Rodri said the team can be proud of their performance after going down to ten men.

"Sometimes is like this, have to live these kind of games, with a very early red card," he said.

"It was difficult for the team, you have to fight to the end we have chances, we scored a goal that was disallowed. miss a penalty. It's difficult 10 versus 11.

"We want to come here to win but it's frustrating in the fact we have a red card, but we fight until the end. It's one important point. We keep going, let's see the other results. We wanted to win, didn't win. But looking at the way we played at 10 vs 11 we cannot be sad."

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