• Manchester City Coach Pep Guardiola said VAR decisions in the Premier League are unpredictable and inconsistent
• Guardiola described VAR outcomes as “a flip of a coin”
• Despite criticising officiating standards, Guardiola urged his players to focus on improving performances rather than blaming referees

The Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola, has described Premier League VAR decisions as unpredictable, saying clubs cannot depend on the technology to consistently deliver fair outcomes.

Speaking amid fresh debates over officiating standards following a controversial VAR incident involving West Ham United and Arsenal in the title race, the Manchester City manager admitted he long ago stopped expecting consistency from refereeing reviews.

According to Guardiola, teams must focus on improving their own performances instead of relying on decisions that remain uncertain.

“I never trust anything since I arrived a long time ago.

“I always learned you have to do it better, do it better, be in a position to do it better because VAR is a flip of a coin,” Guardiola said.

The Spaniard pointed to several controversial moments City have experienced in recent seasons, including their defeats in the 2024 and 2025 FA Cup finals.

In last season’s final against Crystal Palace, City were left frustrated after goalkeeper Dean Henderson escaped a red card despite appearing to handle the ball outside the penalty area.

Henderson later went on to save a penalty as Palace secured victory.

Guardiola also revisited City’s FA Cup final loss to Manchester United the previous year, insisting his side should have been awarded two penalties during the game.

Despite his concerns over officiating, Guardiola maintained that players and managers must concentrate on what they can control.

“When this happens it is because we have to do better.

“The only thing we can do is do it better, that is only in your control,” he said.

Manchester City remain firmly in the Premier League title race and are preparing for a crucial clash against Crystal Palace before facing Chelsea in this season’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

Guardiola reacts as CAF award Morocco AFCON winners title over Senegal

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Manchester City Coach, Pep Guardiola, had expressed shock over the Confederation of African Football’s decision to award the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco national football team, raising concerns about transparency in football governance.

Guardiola described the decision as “a surprise” and suggested it lacked transparency. He also addressed squad dynamics, stating players are free to feel however they wish but must perform.

Reacting to the development, Guardiola questioned the lack of openness surrounding the decision.