Manchester City will once again refuse to wear Emirates sleeve patches in their FA Cup fixtures this season because of a clash with sponsor Etihad.
The competition is sponsored by Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, and City begin their defence of the trophy at home to Huddersfield Town on Sunday afternoon.
Teams playing in the FA Cup typically wear a rectangular red patch on one sleeve bearing the competition logo and Emirates branding.
City were given an exemption from wearing the patch when Emirates became the FA Cup's sponsor in 2015 because their sponsors Etihad, based in Abu Dhabi, are a direct rival in the aviation industry.
In May's final, City didn't wear the red Emirates patches whereas rivals Manchester United did. City won the game 2-1 to take the second leg of their Treble.
In the 2019 final, when City thrashed Watford 6-0, they took a cheeky dig at Emirates by changing the wording of their front-of-shirt sponsor from 'Etihad Airways' to 'Choose Etihad'.
But City cannot avoid the bright red Emirates branding around the competition entirely, with manager Pep Guardiola giving his pre-match press conference on Friday in front of such a backdrop.
Emirates was also emblazoned on the blue ribbons attached to the FA Cup trophy when they celebrated their Wembley win last year.
City will start Sunday's third round tie as strong favourites against a Huddersfield side just one place above the relegation zone in the Championship.
Guardiola could be without midfielder Rodri and striker Erling Haaland for the meeting with the Terriers.
Rodri could miss the game following the death of his grandmother, while Haaland hasn't played since December 6 because of a foot injury.
Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and winger Jeremy Doku are back in training following injury but Guardiola could hold them back for next Saturday's Premier League game with Newcastle.
The City boss added Bernardo Silva, Kalvin Phillips, Matheus Nunes and Scott Carson were all struggling with illness.
chocolatey_boy
0
will haaland play today?
Sahamnorst
1
I wonder why the english FA is operating on double standards. why make an exemption for mancity, would the FA had made similar exemption for a team like say wrexham?
feaclmrst
0
Yet City has no problem participating in a competition being by a direct rival to their sponsor? The FA must be serious. If Etihad doesn't want city to put on a shirt with Emirates logo, then let them sponsor Etihad cup. Otherwise City must not be allowed to break the rules of the cup.
I think is just as simple as that
Dannyify
3
FA will soon add it to FFP breaches 😆 Imagine length of grass and size of dressing room being listed as FFP breach
rehaekorty
0
this is not done.one cannot disrespect the sponsor of a competition even not man City.
Didabcmnop
1
this is a biased decision..every club should respect the sponsor and FA rules..if they don't respect that, expect them to not be in the competition..simple.
the third part of the write up says City where exempted from wearing it not that they refused to wear it........so it's bc of that exemption that they have decided not to be wearing it again and again
RidzSyrus
5
this is a biased decision..every club should respect the sponsor and FA rules..if they don't respect that, expect them to not be in the competition..simple.
diudklmoru
5
Yet City has no problem participating in a competition being by a direct rival to their sponsor? The FA must be serious. If Etihad doesn't want city to put on a shirt with Emirates logo, then let them sponsor Etihad cup. Otherwise City must not be allowed to break the rules of the cup.