Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, has compared the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to the “flip of a coin”, saying he has never trusted the system since it was introduced in England.
VAR has come under renewed scrutiny this week after a stoppage-time goal for West Ham against Arsenal was ruled out following a lengthy review, a decision that carried implications at both ends of the Premier League table.
Guardiola believes his side has repeatedly suffered from key refereeing decisions, pointing to incidents 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 said.
City lost to Crystal Palace in last year’s final, with the Eagles’ goalkeeper Dean Henderson saving a penalty.
But the Englishman could have seen red for handling outside the area, an incident that may have changed the outcome of the game.
That defeat came after the previous year’s loss to Manchester United, when City felt they should have been awarded two penalties.
Guardiola, however, stressed that responsibility still lies with his team.
“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. I always 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.”
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He was speaking ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Crystal Palace, a match City must win to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to two points.
Even then, Arsenal would still need to drop points in their remaining two games against Burnley and Crystal Palace for City to remain in the title race.
“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.”
City are set to play in their third FA Cup final in three seasons when they face Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.
