Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester City's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday, during which Rodri was sent off, descended in "chaos" because referee Anthony Taylor did not control the match at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens enjoyed a dominant first 45 minutes, boasting over 70% possession and scoring twice inside the opening 14 minutes courtesy of a well-taken strike from Phil Foden and a close-range header from Erling Haaland.
However, just 27 seconds after the interval, City lynchpin Rodri was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after raising his hands towards the neck of Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White following a heated altercation by the corner flag.
The dynamics of the contest changed after Rodri's moment of madness and Forest were able to dictate spells of the second half when in possession; frustrations continued to boil over in the closing stages, though, with Guardiola and the City supporters angered by a number of decisions made by Taylor.
Guardiola was particularly enraged when Forest defender Willy Boly avoided an early yellow card for bringing down Haaland, before Manuel Akanji was booked for a similar foul on Taiwo Awoniyi.
Nevertheless, in a game which saw a total of 10 yellow cards and one red card handed out, a resilient Citizens outfit, roared on by the Etihad faithful, managed to hold on for maximum points and preserve their perfect start in the Premier League.
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Guardiola has revealed that Rodri apologised to his City teammates in the dressing room after his dismissal, while the City boss has questioned the performance of referee Taylor.
Speaking to reporters after the game, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News, Guardiola said: "The first minute Haaland goes alone to the goal and it's a yellow card [that isn't given], it's the same guy who makes an action to Rodri and it's a yellow card and that would be the second yellow card. After the first action we get a yellow card.
"It's eight years [at Man City] and we know each other quite well. I said at half time to be careful. Relax, and control your emotions. Unfortunately, Rodri didn't do it. We have to accept it, the decision. Hopefully Rodri will learn.
"The game was perfect after 35 minutes for both sides trying, when it became chaos it wasn't our responsibility, that's for sure."
"Rodri has to control himself and his emotions. I can get a yellow card but Rodri can't. I don't play. You have to be careful."
Asked if Taylor was at fault for the 'chaotic' change of the contest, Guardiola added: "Absolutely. The referee changed the game.
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"I don't understand why the first action (involving Boly and Haaland) wasn't a yellow card and the [next] action (between Akanji and Awoniyi) is a yellow card to us, I don't understand. With all the yellow cards the responsibility is not Nottingham Forest or Man City's, that's for sure."
Comparing Rodri's red card to the dismissal of Kyle Walker in a Champions League clash with RB Leipzig in 2021-22, Guardiola continued: "It happened with Kyle in Leipzig. We were already qualified and we lost him for the [last 16] of the Champions League. Kyle learned from that.
"Rodri is an incredible player. Kyle has [apologised] it in the past. It's emotions, they do it. The trick is to control yourself. I cannot control myself but I don't play. Soon I'll be in the tribune and being banned for too many yellow cards.
"When I see something, it's not a yellow in the first action and after one counter it's a yellow card, why is one not and one yes? A central defender after one minute against Erling, Julian [Alvarez], Phil is a completely different game for us. It's not fair.
"Why is this action not a yellow card and the other one is? I ask the officials to give me the reason why and they don't give me a reason."
Rodri will now miss Man City's next three domestic games, including next Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round meeting with Newcastle United at St James' Park.
Oliver Thomas
