EFL has made a decision regarding Pep Guardiola's request to amend the rules to allow Marc Guehi to play in the Carabao Cup.
On 5 Feb 2026 GMT+7, the English Football League (EFL) confirmed there will be no mid-season rule changes to permit Marc Guehi, Manchester City's new defender, to participate in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal on 22 March, despite Pep Guardiola's appeal.
Although the EFL updated its rules this season to allow players to play for two clubs in this competition (abolishing the old cup-tied rule), the condition is that the player must transfer before the first leg of the semi-finals begins.
Therefore, since Guehi moved from Crystal Palace to Etihad Stadium after the first leg of the semi-finals had already taken place, he is immediately ineligible to play in this tournament for his new club.
Marc Guehi appeared in three Carabao Cup matches for Crystal Palace this season, including the game they lost to Arsenal in the quarter-finals.