FA Cup ball: Pep Guardiola criticises ball after 20 shots off target

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola recently publicly criticized the match ball used in England's domestic cup competitions. His remarks echo those of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who was previously ridiculed earlier this season for his concerns about the League Cup match ball.

Manchester City defeated Championship side Plymouth 3-1 in the FA Cup, but a total of 20 shots went off target throughout the match. Guardiola stated that he was not satisfied with the Mitre brand football used in the FA Cup. He believes that the quality of the match balls in the Champions League and Premier League is superior, but the FA Cup ball is difficult to control.

Guardiola further explained: "The Champions League ball is fantastic, the Premier League ball is great, but this one (the FA Cup ball) is not. It is difficult to control. I know it's a commercial issue, they made an agreement. Do you know how many shots went high? Look at the other games, normally these shots should be on target." The Premier League uses Nike footballs, UEFA's European competitions use Adidas footballs, while the League Cup uses Puma footballs.

In response to Guardiola's comments, a Football Association spokesperson said: "The Mitre Ultimax Pro football – used in the FA Cup and all other FA competitions – has been tested to FIFA's standards. All footballs used in professional matches must meet FIFA's quality certification, and this ball meets all testing requirements. We understand that preference is subjective, but we believe this ball performs well. To date, over 350 goals have been scored in the knockout stages, adding an exciting element to this competitive tournament."

Notably, several Premier League teams, including Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Wolves, had higher shot accuracy rates in their FA Cup matches over the weekend than in their previous league games. In February, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also criticized the Puma football used in the League Cup, arguing that its flight path was unpredictable, leading to numerous shots going high. At the time, the league's official statement said that these footballs met FIFA's highest standards and were successfully used in other major European leagues, including Serie A and La Liga.