Pep Guardiola has urged the Football League to apply what he described as “common sense” after January signing Marc Guehi was ruled ineligible for the Carabao Cup final.
Manchester City booked their place in the first major final of the 2025/26 season after overcoming Newcastle United in the two-legged semi-final. They will meet Arsenal at Wembley on 22 March.
However, as things stand, City will have to do so without Guehi.
The England defender, who joined from Crystal Palace in a £20m move during the January transfer window, made an immediate impact at the weekend.
He came off the bench to score in City’s 2-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Salford City.
Guehi was permitted to feature in that competition despite having already played in the FA Cup for Palace earlier this season.
The rule was amended ahead of the current campaign to allow players to represent two clubs in the same tournament.
Unlike the FA Cup, the competition organised by the English Football League maintains a restriction that requires a player to have been registered before the first leg of the semi-final in order to be eligible for the final with a new club.
That technicality leaves Guehi unable to play against Arsenal next month.
Guardiola questioned the logic behind the regulation after the win over Salford, pointing out the inconsistency between the two domestic cup competitions.
“For example, he cannot play in the final of the Carabao Cup,” the City manager said according to The Mirror. “Why can he play here and why not in the other one? Common sense [it] is not but it’s OK.”
City have formally approached the Football League to request special dispensation for the defender.
Guardiola, though measured in his tone, made clear that he believes the rule should be reconsidered.
The Spaniard stopped short of criticising the authorities directly but suggested the current interpretation lacks consistency.
From his perspective, if a player is allowed to represent two clubs in one domestic competition during the same season, the same principle should apply across the board.
While Guehi’s eligibility for Wembley remains uncertain, he wasted little time in making his mark in City colours.
Introduced in the second half against League Two side Salford City, Guehi replaced John Stones and soon added City’s second goal to secure progress.
The tie had proven more competitive than many expected, with Salford offering stubborn resistance before City’s quality ultimately told.
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His strike ensured there would be no late drama and offered Guardiola a glimpse of what the defender can provide at both ends of the pitch.
Elsewhere, Antoine Semenyo will be available for the Carabao Cup final. The forward’s move from Bournemouth was completed before the first leg of the semi-final against Newcastle, satisfying the competition’s eligibility requirements.
Meanwhile, the Football Association is also reviewing comments made by Rodri following City’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
The midfielder voiced frustration about the officiating after the match, and the FA is understood to be examining whether his remarks breached regulations.
Should the governing body decide his comments crossed the line, Rodri could face disciplinary action.
City are therefore juggling both on-field and administrative issues as they approach a decisive period of the campaign.
The club remain in contention for silverware on multiple fronts, but Guardiola has often emphasised the importance of squad depth during a demanding season.
