Marc Guehi is set to feature for Manchester City in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, raising questions about his eligibility after already playing for Crystal Palace in the competition earlier this season. The defender captained Palace in their shock third-round exit to Macclesfield before completing a transfer to City in January. Thanks to a rule change implemented for the 2025/26 season, Guehi is permitted to represent two clubs in the same FA Cup campaign.
Rule Change Explained
The Football Association amended Rule 95 ahead of the current season. Previously, the regulation stated: "A player shall only play for one club in the competition during the same season." The updated rule now reads: "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." Additionally, a player may only represent one club in any given round of the competition.
Further clarity is provided by Rule 96, which states that "a player who is named by a club as a substitute for a competition match but does not take part in the competition match may play for another club in the competition during the same season." The FA has clarified this season that such a player "shall be deemed to have not played in that competition match for the purposes of Rule 95."
Guehi's FA Cup Journey
Guehi has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the revised rules. He scored for Manchester City in their fourth-round victory over Salford City and kept a clean sheet in the quarter-final win against Liverpool. Now, he has the opportunity to become a back-to-back FA Cup champion if City overcome Chelsea at Wembley.
However, the defender was unable to participate in the Carabao Cup for City, having already featured for Palace in that competition. He missed out on a medal when City defeated Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final earlier this season.
Guardiola's Reaction
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola questioned the discrepancy between the two domestic cup competitions. He told the BBC: "Why can he play here [in the FA Cup] and why not in the other one [Carabao Cup]? Common sense [it] is not, but it's OK."
The FA Cup final takes place at Wembley Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 BST. Viewers can watch the match live on TNT Sports, which broadcasts select FA Cup fixtures. A monthly subscription to TNT Sports, available via Prime Video, also includes coverage of Champions League, Europa League, and Premier League matches.
