Pep Guardiola slams VAR inconsistency after FA Cup losses

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola criticizes VAR for inconsistent decisions, comparing it to a coin toss.

City frustrated by VAR calls Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has likened video assistant referee decisions to a random coin toss, expressing his long-standing distrust of the system since its introduction in England. His comments follow renewed criticism of VAR after a late West Ham goal against Arsenal was disallowed following a prolonged review, affecting multiple Premier League teams. Guardiola believes his side has suffered from incorrect referee calls, specifically pointing to VAR decisions in their FA Cup final defeats in 2024 and 2025. ## Recent final losses under scrutiny City lost the 2025 FA Cup final to Crystal Palace after Dean Henderson’s penalty save, though the England goalkeeper could have been sent off for handling outside the area, potentially altering the match outcome. Earlier, in the 2024 final against Manchester United, City felt aggrieved for not being awarded two penalties during the game. These incidents have fueled frustration over officiating standards in high-stakes matches. ## Guardiola shifts focus to player responsibility Guardiola argues that VAR controversies highlight the need for players to improve rather than blaming referees. He stated, "When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR." He further added, "I never trust anything since I arrived a long time ago. Always I learned you have to do it better, do it better, be in a position to do it better because you blame yourself with what you have to do, because (VAR) is a flip of a coin." ## Title race and upcoming fixtures Before facing Palace on Wednesday, Guardiola’s team must win to reduce Arsenal’s league lead to two points. Even then, Arsenal would still need to drop points in their remaining two games against Burnley and Palace for City to have a realistic chance of winning the Premier League. Guardiola emphasized that the title race is no longer in City’s hands, urging players to focus solely on their own performance. He told them, "The only thing we can do is do it better, that is only in your control." ## Third straight FA Cup final appearance City will compete in their third consecutive FA Cup final this Saturday, facing Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. This match marks another high-profile opportunity for the club, following their back-to-back final defeats in recent years. The team aims to end the season on a high note despite ongoing officiating debates.