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Guardiola Demands Palace Win, Calls VAR a Coin Flip

5/13/2026

Summary

Guardiola Challenges VAR

Pep Guardiola said City must beat Palace to keep pressure on Arsenal in title race.
VAR referee Chris Kavanagh disallowed West Ham’s equaliser against Arsenal after ruling Callum Wilson impeded goalkeeper David Raya.
Guardiola declared he never trusts VAR, calling it a coin flip, and urged his team to ignore decisions.
Stuart Attwell will referee the Etihad match, while Palace may rotate its squad because of the Conference League final.

Summary

City Fitness Review

Manchester City will assess midfielder Rodri’s fitness after he missed four games with a groin injury.
Defender Abdukodir Khusanov will undergo a training evaluation following his recent absence from the squad.
The postponed match with Crystal Palace is set for 2:00 a.m. on 14 May 2026 at the Etihad Stadium.
Crystal Palace must balance the Premier League fixture with preparation for the UEFA Conference League final a day later, prompting possible squad rotation.

Summary

Guardiola Blames VAR

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola blamed referee and VAR errors for 2024 and 2025 FA Cup final defeats, saying City were denied penalties in the loss to Manchester United.
The VAR controversy after an overturned West Ham goal shifted points for clubs at the Premier League’s top and bottom.
In the 2025 final versus Crystal Palace, Dean Henderson saved a penalty while a handling red card altered the result.

History

Historical Context

In August 2019 the Premier League launched video-assistant referee (VAR) for the 2019-20 season, covering four decision types (goals, penalties, direct reds, mistaken identity). The system debuted as Liverpool claimed the title, while fans voiced criticism of its impact on game flow. Today Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Crystal Palace again clash with VAR, reviving those early concerns.

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Guardiola Challenges VAR

Pep Guardiola said City must beat Palace to keep pressure on Arsenal in title race.
VAR referee Chris Kavanagh disallowed West Ham’s equaliser against Arsenal after ruling Callum Wilson impeded goalkeeper David Raya.
Guardiola declared he never trusts VAR, calling it a coin flip, and urged his team to ignore decisions.
Stuart Attwell will referee the Etihad match, while Palace may rotate its squad because of the Conference League final.

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