Why Marc Guehi CAN play for Man City in FA Cup today as rule change explained

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Evening Standard

·14 February 2026

Why Marc Guehi CAN play for Man City in FA Cup today as rule change explained

Pep Guardiola will be happy with this ruling

Guehi has already played in the FA Cup this season. The central defender was part of the Crystal Palace side that were beaten by non-league Macclesfield FC in round three, causing the biggest upset in the competition’s history.

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Under previous rules Guehi’s appearance against Macclesfield would have left him cup-tied following his move to Man City.

However, a rule change that has come into affect this season allows for a player may play for a maximum of one other club in the competition proper but cannot play for two different teams in the same round.

Regulation 95 states that: “A Player shall only play for one Club in the Competition during the same Season, save that a Player that has played for one Club in the Qualifying Competition and/or the Competition. Proper may play for a maximum of one other Club in the Competition Proper (but may only play for a maximum of one Club in any given round of the Competition).”

This ruling is sure to please Pep Guardiola after expressing unhappiness with the Carabao Cup ruling which means Guehi cannot play for Man City in next month’s final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.

Guehi was unable to play for City in their 3-1 semi-final second leg win over Newcastle because of a rule which stated a player cannot play for two clubs in the same season of the competition if they transferred to the second club after the first leg of the semi-final.

It was between the first and second legs that Guehi moved from Crystal Palace — who he competed for earlier in the competition.

Despite Guardiola’s plea, Standard Sport understands there will be no rule change and the England international is therefore unable to play for Man City in the final on March 22.