Manchester City reportedly believe they have been negatively impacted by VAR decisions in the past two FA Cup finals.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has likened video assistant referee decision-making to a “flip of a coin,” stating he has lacked trust in the system since its introduction in English football.
VAR has faced renewed criticism this week, following the controversial disallowing of a stoppage-time goal for West Ham against Arsenal after a lengthy review, a decision with implications for both ends of the Premier League table.
Guardiola suggested his team has been on the receiving end of unfavorable refereeing, pointing to decisions in their FA Cup final defeats in 2024 and 2025.
“We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because the referees didn’t do their jobs they should do, even the VAR,” the Spaniard commented.
City suffered a loss to Crystal Palace in last year’s final, where Palace’s goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, saved a penalty.
However, Henderson could have potentially been sent off for a handball outside the penalty area, an incident which might have altered the game’s outcome.
This followed City’s grievances from the previous year’s defeat to Manchester United, where they felt they should have been awarded two penalties.
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Guardiola emphasized the importance of players minimizing VAR’s influence through their performance.
“When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR,” he continued.
“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.”
Guardiola made these remarks ahead of Wednesday’s game against Palace, a match they need to win to reduce Arsenal‘s lead at the top of the table to two points.
Even with a victory, Arsenal would still need to drop points in their remaining two fixtures – against relegated Burnley and Palace – for City to maintain a chance of securing the Premier League title.
“Of course it is not in our hands in the Premier League. Always I say to the players, ‘Do it, do it, do it better’,” Guardiola added.
“The only thing we can do is do it better, that is only in your control.”
Guardiola’s team is set to participate in their third consecutive FA Cup final when they face Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
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