Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has launched a scathing critique of the video assistant referee (VAR) system, likening its decision-making process to a “flip of a coin.” Guardiola, speaking ahead of City’s Wednesday Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, revealed a long-standing distrust of VAR since its introduction in English football.
The comments arrive as VAR faces renewed scrutiny following a controversial stoppage-time goal for West Ham against Arsenal being disallowed after an extended review, a decision that impacted both ends of the Premier League table. Guardiola, however, insists his skepticism is rooted in his own team’s experiences.
City’s history of VAR grievances
Guardiola pointed to specific incidents in Manchester City’s recent FA Cup final defeats as examples of what he perceives as VAR failures. “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 stated, as reported by BBC Sport.
He cited the 2025 FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace, where goalkeeper Dean Henderson saved a penalty. City were aggrieved, believing Henderson should have been shown a red card for handling the ball outside the area earlier in the match. A year prior, in the 2024 FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United, City felt they were denied two clear penalties. “We lost the two finals of the FA Cup because the referees didn’t do their jobs they should do, even the VAR,” Guardiola added.
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Players must overcome the system
Despite his strong criticism, Guardiola maintains that the ultimate responsibility lies with his players to perform at a level that negates the impact of contentious decisions. He believes his side has often been on the wrong end of refereeing calls, but that the solution rests within the team.
“When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR,” Guardiola explained. “The only thing we can do is do it better, that is only in your control.”
Manchester City currently finds itself in a tight Premier League title race. A win against Crystal Palace would cut Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to two points, though Arsenal would still need to drop points in their remaining two fixtures against relegated Burnley and Palace for City to have a chance at the title. Guardiola’s side is also preparing for a third FA Cup final in as many seasons, set to meet Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
Sources: www.bbc.com
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