FA defends ball after Guardiola says it is difficult to control / Photo: Oli SCARFF - AFP
CMSC
0.0800
Dubai Telegraph - FA defends ball after Guardiola says it is difficult to control
EUR
-
AED 3.852359
AFN 76.573998
ALL 100.123142
AMD 412.965101
ANG 1.887922
AOA 960.323198
ARS 1115.763042
AUD 1.679788
AWG 1.888128
AZN 1.789104
BAM 1.960051
BBD 2.115067
BDT 127.274849
BGN 1.952945
BHD 0.395379
BIF 2955.445415
BMD 1.04896
BND 1.412564
BOB 7.265139
BRL 6.265647
BSD 1.047582
BTN 91.485434
BWP 14.560623
BYN 3.428236
BYR 20559.620276
BZD 2.104164
CAD 1.512564
CDF 3012.613818
CHF 0.940707
CLF 0.025986
CLP 997.193754
CNY 7.640411
CNH 7.65379
COP 4336.034406
CRC 528.250824
CUC 1.04896
CUP 27.797446
CVE 111.976102
CZK 25.023971
DJF 186.421024
DKK 7.45817
DOP 65.402252
DZD 141.34209
EGP 53.118796
ERN 15.734403
ETB 134.997548
FJD 2.458501
FKP 0.833913
GBP 0.82506
GEL 2.921344
GGP 0.833913
GHS 16.219455
GIP 0.833913
GMD 74.9988
GNF 9098.23229
GTQ 8.090096
GYD 219.305865
HKD 8.156888
HNL 26.889578
HRK 7.535721
HTG 139.066297
HUF 407.855737
IDR 17361.19323
ILS 3.770524
IMP 0.833913
INR 91.755363
IQD 1374.455321
IRR 44059.050619
ISK 147.060116
JEP 0.833913
JMD 164.539288
JOD 0.743717
JPY 157.495609
KES 135.731326
KGS 91.730549
KHR 4205.088434
KMF 497.574319
KPW 944.064057
KRW 1533.418895
KWD 0.324288
KYD 0.860154
KZT 522.597091
LAK 22736.699476
LBP 93941.622839
LKR 309.600652
LRD 208.437894
LSL 19.604818
LTL 3.097307
LVL 0.634505
LYD 5.123332
MAD 10.466746
MDL 19.508366
MGA 4952.901803
MKD 61.973777
MMK 2202.367041
MNT 3640.40496
MOP 8.404006
MRU 41.962895
MUR 48.913041
MVR 16.195763
MWK 1818.404828
MXN 21.485333
MYR 4.677541
MZN 66.709242
NAD 19.604818
NGN 1572.328736
NIO 38.47042
NOK 11.719146
NPR 146.877397
NZD 1.86212
OMR 0.403844
PAB 1.04896
PEN 3.890924
PGK 4.210002
PHP 60.799736
PKR 293.261201
PLN 4.226121
PYG 8317.033552
QAR 3.818009
RON 5.031712
RSD 118.408992
RUB 93.835009
RWF 1470.723125
SAR 3.933629
SBD 8.844519
SCR 15.621455
SDG 628.28786
SEK 11.047686
SGD 1.417355
SHP 0.833531
SLE 23.968807
SLL 21996.17721
SOS 600.037331
SRD 37.080898
STD 21711.358674
SVC 9.17877
SYP 13638.461848
SZL 19.604818
THB 35.899749
TJS 11.455177
TMT 3.671361
TND 3.320863
TOP 2.519095
TRY 38.211203
TTD 7.119261
TWD 34.552315
TZS 2715.154693
UAH 43.679777
UGX 3856.669633
USD 1.04896
UYU 44.633825
UZS 13507.874126
VES 67.554645
VND 26790.009761
VUV 130.162049
WST 2.970736
XAF 663.432425
XAG 0.033109
XAU 0.000363
XCD 2.832963
XDR 0.801345
XOF 663.432425
XPF 119.331742
YER 259.912369
ZAR 19.512249
ZMK 9441.90492
ZMW 29.973425
ZWL 337.764762
- Trends from Milan Fashion Week: Belts and 50 shades of grey
- Pope has two episodes of 'acute respiratory failure': Vatican
- Two dead, five hurt as car hits crowd in German city: police
- Lights out for landmark Hong Kong theatre
- Dozen Teslas torched outside French dealership: authorities
- Europe's Ariane 6 rocket launch postponed due to 'anomaly'
- European defence stocks soar as govts ramp up military spend
- UK's Royal Society of top scientists mulls call to oust Elon Musk
- Two dead, several hurt as car hits crowd in German city: police
- Real Madrid need flawless game against Atletico: Vinicius
FA defends ball after Guardiola says it is difficult to control
The Football Association has robustly defended the ball used in FA Cup matches this season after Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said it was "difficult to control".
Guardiola compared the ball unfavourably with those used in the Premier League and Champions League after his side's 3-1 fifth round victory over Plymouth on Saturday, saying it was "not proper".
Earlier this season, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was mocked after criticising the Puma ball used in the League Cup.
The Gunners lost their two-legged semi-final against Newcastle 4-0 on aggregate.
The Football Association said the ball used in the FA Cup "delivers against all of the testing requirements".
"Mitre's Ultimax Pro ball -- used in the Emirates FA Cup and all other FA competitions -- has been tested in accordance with FIFA testing," said an FA spokesman.
"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."
Guardiola said after his team's victory against Championship strugglers Plymouth: "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."
City's three goals at the weekend came from 29 shots, of which nine were on target.
In their most recent Premier League game, a 1-0 win at Tottenham, they had 12 shots, five of which were on target.
"The Champions League ball is exceptional, the Premier League (ball) is exceptional but this one is not good," said Guardiola.
Adidas balls are used in the Champions League, with Nike balls used in the Premier League.
City, beaten FA Cup finalists last season, have been drawn to play Bournemouth in the quarter-finals.
R.El-Zarouni--DT
