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.
Rayan Cherki starts to put on Ekitike’s shirt… before taking it off and raising his arm in 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.’
It was a poor look for both players but Ekitike in particular, whose decision to swap shirts while his team were receiving a hammering incensed supporters.
The striker was unable to make a significant impact in the game for the Reds on a nightmare afternoon for Arne Slot’s men.
After a bright enough start, Virgil van Dijk then fouled Nico O’Reilly in the area and Erling Haaland converted from the spot.
Just before the break, it was Haaland again who doubled the advantage, heading in an Antoine Semenyo cross.
Semenyo himself then chipped one home before Haaland completed his hat-trick.
Liverpool fans were seen streaming for the exits well ahead of full-time and those who missed the Ekitike shirt incident will no doubt be unimpressed.
The Frenchman has endured a strong debut season on Merseyside despite the club’s struggles but there have been flashpoints of immaturity.
Earlier in the campaign, he received a second yellow card for taking his shirt of in celebration in a Carabo Cup win over Southampton.
It led to him missing the next game against Crystal Palace, which Liverpool went on to lose.
Slot described it as ‘needless’ and ‘stupid’, while Ekitike added: ‘The emotion got the better of me. My apologies to all the Red family.’
Cherki has also hit the headlines for his behaviour this season.
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.’
