Why Man City are the only team to have a different sleeve patch in FA Cup third round this weekend

Manchester City secured passage to the FA Cup fourth round in easy fashion on Saturday night - but there was something about their shirt which was different to all of the other teams in action this weekend.

In a local derby, Pep Guardiola trounced Class of 92-owned Salford City 8-0 at the Etihad Stadium - with James McAtee bagging a hat-trick and fellow youngsters Nico O'Reilly and Divin Mubama bagging their first goals for the club.

Jeremy Doku struck a brace, while Jack Grealish finally ended a goal drought which spanned 392 days with a second half penalty.

City sport different sleeve patch

The highest scorers of the fourth round so far, City were the only side to have a different patch on their sleeve for their fixture.

Since 2015 after a partnership with Budweiser came to an end, Emirates have been sponsors of the FA Cup and have continued to extend the deal.

But the UAE airline are direct competitors to City's sponsors Etihad Airways, who have graced their shirts since the 2009/10 season and also have the naming rights for their stadium.

Manchester City's unique FA Cup sleeve patch. Image: Getty

With such a lucrative deal in place, City do not want to give free promotion to a rival sponsor and so in recent years they have snubbed wearing the badges.

The right sleeve has therefore been left completely plain by City, who had the text 'Choose Etihad' on the centre of their shirt for the FA Cup final win against Watford in 2019.

But against Salford, City wore a unique sleeve pitch. Whereas the rest of the pack had the 'Emirates FA Cup' logo on a red rectangle, City's merely had the name of the competition due to the clash.

Man City had a different FA Cup sleeve patch. Image: Getty

They had previously received an exemption by the powers that be but now look to have made a compromise.

Also on the front of their shirt, City continue to wear the FIFA Club Champions badge for winning the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia at the end of 2023 and will do so until a new champion is crowned in the revamped 48-team tournament in the United States in the summer.