Manchester: Rayan Cherki sparked debates during Manchester City's dominant 4-0 win over Liverpool FC in the FA Cup quarter-final after being spotted wearing an opponent's jersey while sitting on the substitutes' bench. The French playmaker, who delivered an impressive performance at the Etihad Stadium, was substituted in the 71st minute for Tijjani Reijnders.
According to Ghana Web, shortly after leaving the pitch, Cherki exchanged shirts with fellow France international Hugo Ekitike, who had also been substituted during the match. However, the situation quickly turned unusual when Cherki returned to the Manchester City bench wearing Ekitike's Liverpool jersey while the match was still ongoing.
The sight immediately drew attention, as players typically wait until after the final whistle before swapping shirts with opponents. Coaching staff quickly intervened, instructing Cherki to remove the shirt. The 22-year-old responded by raising his hand in apology before taking it off, seemingly acknowledging the unusual moment.
The incident was picked up by television cameras and later shown on beIN Sports, prompting widespread discussions among fans on social media. Some supporters criticised the timing of the shirt swap, arguing that such gestures should be reserved for after the match out of respect for the competition.
Despite the brief controversy, Manchester City secured an emphatic victory to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick, while Antoine Semenyo added another goal to complete a memorable afternoon for Pep Guardiola's side.