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.
Manchester City don’t wear the Emirates FA Cup sleeve patch when they play in the competition as it clashes with their main shirt sponsor Etihad, a rival airline
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’.
Manchester United players wearing the Emirates patch during last year’s FA Cup final
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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.
Pep Guardiola had little choice but to give Friday’s press conference previewing City’s third round tie with Huddersfield Town in front of a red Emirates backdrop
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.
