Manchester City is set to appeal to the English Football League (EFL) in hopes of securing special permission for defender Marc Guéhi to participate in the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on March 22, 2024. City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, expressed his frustration over the current eligibility rules that will bar Guéhi from playing, despite his recent transfer to the club.
City reached the final after a decisive performance against Newcastle United, winning their semifinal matchup. However, Guéhi, who joined the club in January, is ineligible to participate in the final because he was not registered before the first leg of the semifinal, which took place on January 13, 2024. Guardiola highlighted that another recent signing, Antoine Semenyo, was eligible as he had transferred from Bournemouth prior to that match.
Guardiola remarked, “It’s difficult to understand” why Guéhi cannot take to the field in the final, emphasizing the sentiment that it is unfair for a player acquired for a significant fee to be sidelined due to a rule he finds confusing. “Hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup (EFL) that Marc can play the final. I don’t understand why he cannot play the final,” he stated.
The manager confirmed that while Semenyo was able to compete in both legs against Newcastle, Guéhi was excluded from the second leg despite having already played for Manchester City in two matches following his transfer. Guardiola conveyed limited optimism regarding the outcome of their appeal but insisted that the club must pursue the matter. “I said to the club, they have to ask, definitely,” he noted.
As the final approaches, the stakes are high for Manchester City, and the team hopes that the EFL will reconsider the eligibility criteria, allowing Guéhi to contribute to the squad in a critical match. The club’s efforts to advocate for Guéhi’s participation reflect a broader challenge within football concerning transfer regulations and player eligibility, highlighting the complexities that can arise from administrative rules in the sport.
