By BEN WINSTANLEY
Published: 10:51 EDT, 4 April 2026 | Updated: 10:51 EDT, 4 April 2026
Manchester City star Rayan Cherki held his hand up in apology after being called out for wearing Hugo Ekitike's Liverpool shirt on the substitutes' bench during his side's 4-0 FA Cup drubbing of the Reds.
The awkward moment came after the 22-year-old was replaced by Tijjani Reijnders in the 71st minute. He left the pitch and then swapped shirts with Liverpool forward Ekitike, who had himself come off three minutes earlier.
The pair play together for France and had earlier greeted each other warmly before the match.
Cherki, who joined City from Lyon last summer, then put on the Liverpool shirt while he sat down - and was quickly alerted to his faux pas, seemingly by a member of City's coaching staff.
Cherki dons Ekitike's shirt on the subs' bench
... before removing it and offering an apology
Rayan Cherki and Hugo Ekitike were all smiles together before their sides met at the Etihad
He then took off the shirt and raised his arm in apology.
The bizarre incident raised eyebrows on social media, with City outlet CityXtra posting a picture of the incident on X alongside the message: 'What are you doing?' alongside a laughing emoji.
Ekitike also came in for criticism for his decision to swap shirts before the end of the game. One user remarked: 'Hugo Ekitike swapping shirts with Rayan Cherki when it’s 4-0 tells you everything you need to know about this squad at the moment. Heads in the clouds.'
Before the international break, Cherki refused to apologise for showboating in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, which City won 2-0.
After the Wembley clash Cherki said: 'To the Arsenal fans? I'm not sorry. People think it was disrespect… no, it was intentional. I grew up watching Nani in the FA Cup doing the same thing to Arsenal - pure confidence, pure freedom.
'So when I had the moment, I did it for a reason. Not just to entertain… but to remind them. Some clubs, when you feel they’re vulnerable, you don’t just beat them… you play with them.'