Guardiola's Rulebook Grievance Over Fizzy Cup Eligibility
In a season already filled with dramatic twists, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has ignited fresh controversy by questioning the "pure logic" behind Fizzy Cup eligibility rules. This comes despite his team clearly benefiting from recent regulation changes during their semi-final demolition of holders Newcastle United.
The Semenyo Advantage Versus Guéhi's Exclusion
Antoine Semenyo, City's £65 million January signing from Bournemouth, found himself at the centre of this regulatory debate. Under previous Fizzy Cup regulations, the winger would have been considered "cup-tied" after featuring for Bournemouth in their August defeat to Brentford. However, a revision to rule 6.4.2 permitted his participation for City in the semi-final, where he delivered a standout performance alongside Max Alleyne, who had previously represented Watford in the competition.
Guardiola's frustration emerged not from Semenyo's eligibility, but from the contrasting situation facing his other January acquisition, defender Marc Guéhi. The rules stipulate that a player can only represent two clubs in the competition if they join the second before the semi-final kicks off. Since Guéhi arrived at the Etihad after City's first-leg victory at St James' Park, he remains ineligible for the March final.
"Antoine arrived before the first [leg] so could play," Guardiola explained. "And now it's the final. Why should he [Guéhi] not play? Why not? We pay his salary, he is our player. I said to the club, they have to ask, definitely. I don't understand the reason why he cannot play in the final."
Defensive Crisis Fuels Guardiola's Frustration
Observers note that Guardiola's irritation likely stems from City's current defensive injury crisis, which prompted Guéhi's acquisition in the first place. The manager's selective criticism of rules that both helped and hindered his squad appears particularly pointed given these circumstances.
The EFL has already indicated that any appeal to clear Guéhi for the final would be firmly rejected. However, City's history of testing regulatory boundaries suggests they might risk selecting him anyway, banking on the typically slow pace of subsequent investigations.
In a silver lining for Guardiola, separate rule changes mean Guéhi will be eligible for FA Cup matches, provided he overcomes the disappointment of Crystal Palace's recent defeat to Macclesfield.
Wider Football Landscape: Milner's Milestone and Rosenior's Respect Campaign
Elsewhere in football, Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler paid tribute to James Milner as the veteran midfielder prepares for his record-equalling 653rd Premier League appearance. "James Milner is a role model, still playing on the level he plays and also training on the level he trains," said Hürzeler, who was just nine years old when Milner made his top-flight debut in 2002.
Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior sparked minor controversy by admonishing an Arsenal coach for straying beyond the halfway line during pre-match warm-ups before Tuesday's Milk Cup semi-final. "When you warm up, you have your half, the other team have their half," Rosenior stated, emphasising his commitment to footballing etiquette.
Transfer Developments and Broadcasting Changes
In transfer news, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain appears close to joining Celtic after being without a club since leaving Besiktas in August. Meanwhile, the broadcasting landscape shifts as Richard Keys and Andy Gray are set to depart BeIn Sports at season's end, ending their long-running partnership with the Qatar-based broadcaster.
As Guardiola continues to challenge what he perceives as illogical regulations, this Fizzy Cup controversy highlights the ongoing tension between managerial expectations and competition governance in modern football.
