Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has publicly urged the English Football League (EFL) to amend its registration protocols to permit defender Marc Guéhi to participate in the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. The England international currently faces a mandatory exclusion from the March 22 showpiece at Wembley Stadium due to the timing of his high-profile transfer from Crystal Palace. Guéhi finalized his move to the Etihad Stadium shortly after City’s 2-0 first-leg semi-final victory over Newcastle United, a timeline that triggered specific competition restrictions.
According to a BBC report on Thursday, current Carabao Cup statutes dictate that for a player to be eligible for the latter stages of the tournament, they must be registered before the winter transfer window shuts or prior to the commencement of the semi-final first leg—whichever milestone occurs first. Because Guéhi’s registration was processed after the initial leg against the Magpies, he was barred from appearing in both legs of City’s eventual 5-1 aggregate triumph and remains ineligible for the final under the existing framework.
Guardiola has expressed significant frustration with these administrative hurdles, arguing that the rule unfairly penalizes clubs and players alike. Following Wednesday’s decisive victory, the Spanish tactician confirmed that Manchester City intends to formally petition the EFL for a special dispensation. The club argues that the regulation is outdated and fails to account for the dynamics of the mid-season transfer market, especially regarding players who were not “cup-tied” by playing for another team in the same competition earlier in the season.
During his post-match media briefing, Guardiola voiced his bewilderment regarding the selection constraints:
“Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc can play the final. I don’t understand why he cannot play the final. You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play because of a rule I don’t understand.”
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