He would soon become one of the top referees in the Mexican First Division, where he earned a reputation for commanding respect on the pitch,[1] although he was also known for his temperament and for being quick to show yellow and red cards.

[2] After an incident during the Apertura 2011 final between Tigres and Santos Laguna, he was suspended for 5 games by the Mexican Federation when he showed two yellow cards at the same time to Héctor Mancilla and Carlos Adrián Morales.

During the first round, he refereed the final group D match between Uruguay and Italy,[7] where he sent off Italian midfielder Claudio Marchisio after an alleged studs-up challenge on Egidio Arévalo.

After the match, which Italy lost 1–0, eliminating them from the tournament, with Uruguay advancing in their place, this assault launched a FIFA Disciplinary Committee investigation that ultimately ruled that Suárez would receive a 9-match suspension and a fine, and would be banned from any football activity for four months.

[16] Early in his refereeing career, Rodríguez was nicknamed "Chiquidrácula" due to his resemblance with a Mexican TV character of child Count Dracula, portrayed by Carlos Espejel.