The Football Association (FA) has staunchly defended the quality of the ball used in FA Cup matches this season. This comes after Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, criticized it for being "difficult to control".
Guardiola's criticism came on the heels of his team's 3-1 fifth-round victory over Plymouth. He unfavorably compared the FA Cup ball with those used in Premier League and Champions League matches, stating that it was "not proper".
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, said:
"The ball is not proper, I'm sorry. For many, many years it's happened in the FA Cup or Carabao (League) Cup. I know it's a business and they come to agreements, but the ball is not (good). You know how many shots went over the post? Not just Erling (Haaland)'s -- look at other games."
"The Champions League ball is exceptional, the Premier League (ball) is exceptional but this one is not good,"
It's worth noting that Adidas balls are used in the Champions League while Nike balls are utilized in the Premier League.
Earlier criticisms and mockery
This isn't the first time a high-profile manager has criticized a tournament-specific ball. Earlier this season, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faced ridicule after criticizing the Puma ball used in the League Cup following their two-legged semi-final loss against Newcastle by an aggregate score of 4-0. In response to these criticisms, The Football Association robustly defended its choice of match-ball for FA Cup games. They stated that their chosen ball "delivers against all of Manchester City's testing requirements", implying they see no issue with its performance or quality.
FA spokesperson said:
"Mitre's Ultimax Pro ball -- used in the Emirates FA Cup and all other FA competitions -- has been tested in accordance with FIFA testing. All footballs in the professional game are required to meet the FIFA Quality pro accreditation, and this ball delivers against all of the testing requirements.
"Alongside Mitre, we understand that preference is subjective, but we're confident that the ball performs well. With over 350 goals scored in the knockout competition so far, it provides an exciting element to such a competitive tournament."
Despite Guardiola’s criticism about match-ball quality, Manchester City continues to progress through competitions successfully. After reaching last season's final only to be beaten at Wembley Stadium, they have been drawn to play Bournemouth in this year’s quarter-finals.
While there may be differing opinions on equipment among managers and players alike within footballing circles - whether it be about balls or otherwise - what remains consistent is the passion and determination to win. As Manchester City prepares for their quarter-final match against Bournemouth, fans of both sports and sports betting will be eagerly watching to see if Guardiola's comments have any bearing on the outcome.
