Mitre strikes back at Guardiola over 'unacceptable ball' claim

Mitre, which was founded in Huddersfield 200 years ago, said the Mitre Delta match ball used meet the 'FIFA Quality Pro' standard.

Guardiola fumed about the "unacceptable" match ball after Manchester City edged past Wolves and into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on penalties.

He said: "The ball is not acceptable to play with at that level."We play with a different ball. It's not Nike, Adidas I don't know, it's a different brand. It's unacceptable to play with the ball."That ball is not a serious ball for a professional game.

"No weight, nothing."(We get the balls for) one day or two days, but the ball is bad two days, one month, one year, two years. It's bad, it's bad."The ball is unacceptable for the high of level of the competition."

However, a spokesperson for the manufacturer said: "We totally appreciate that all balls feel different and that’s why we made sure competing teams were sent balls well ahead of the tournament for training."

The company added that it works with professional players and clubs to develop and test its pro balls.

The spokesperson added that "the Mitre ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup is of exactly the same technical specification as the balls used in the Sky Bet EFL and Checkatrade Trophy, all of which are tested in accordance with the 'FIFA Quality Programme for Footballs' and meet the 'FIFA Quality Pro' standard. All balls used in the professional game are required to meet this standard."