Soccer-Man City boss Guardiola says VAR decisions like the flip of a coin


Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Arsenal - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - April 19, 2026 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates after the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

May 13 (Reuters) - Manchester City ⁠manager Pep Guardiola compared the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system ⁠to the flip of a coin on Tuesday ‌and said his side must play well enough to avoid any impact from decisions that go against them.

VAR has been under renewed scrutiny this week ​after West Ham United’s late equaliser against ⁠Premier League leaders Arsenal ⁠was disallowed, a decision that could prove crucial in the ⁠title race.

“The ‌only thing we can do is do it (perform) better, that is only in your control,” Guardiola ⁠told reporters ahead of Wednesday's home game against ​Crystal Palace.

“We lost ‌the two finals of the FA Cup because the ⁠referees didn’t do ​their jobs they should do, even the VAR. When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the ⁠referees or VAR.

"I never trust anything since ​I arrived (at City) a long time ago. I learned you have to do it better, be in a position to do ⁠it better because (if not) you blame yourself with what you have to do, because (VAR) is a flip of a coin."

City trail Arsenal by five points but have played one game ​fewer than the London side.

“We play in ⁠this game, we go to Bournemouth and the last game ​in Aston Villa. The important one is ‌tomorrow and we will see ​what happens to the next games," Guardiola said.

(Reporting by Paras J. Haji in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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