Manchester City cruised into the FA Cup fourth round with an easy 8-0 victory over Salford City on Saturday, but what caught attention was their unique shirt design. In a local derby, Pep Guardiola’s side dominated the Class of 92-owned Salford at the Etihad Stadium.
James McAtee netted a hat-trick, while young players Nico O’Reilly and Divin Mubama scored their debut goals for the club. Jeremy Doku contributed two goals, and Jack Grealish ended a 392-day goal drought by converting a penalty in the second half.
However, what set City apart was the sleeve patch on their shirts. Unlike other teams, who proudly wore the “Emirates FA Cup” logo, Manchester City’s sleeve only bore the name of the competition, not the usual red rectangle.
This was due to the conflict with their main sponsor, Etihad Airways, which has had its logo on the team’s shirts since 2009 and also holds naming rights for the stadium. Despite Emirates sponsoring the FA Cup since 2015, City has deliberately avoided showcasing their logo to not promote a direct competitor.
As a result, City has worn a blank right sleeve in recent years, even during the 2019 FA Cup final. This time, a special sleeve patch was used, signaling a compromise on the branding issue.
Additionally, the team continues to wear the FIFA Club Champions badge, earned after their 2023 Club World Cup win in Saudi Arabia, a distinction they will hold until the new tournament in 2026.
