Manchester Metropolis star Rayan Cherki held his hand up in apology after being referred to as out for sporting Hugo Ekitike’s Liverpool shirt on the substitutes’ bench throughout his aspect’s 4-0 FA Cup drubbing of the Reds.
The awkward second got here after the 22-year-old was changed by Tijjani Reijnders within the 71st minute.
He left the pitch after which swapped shirts with Liverpool ahead Ekitike, who had himself come off three minutes earlier.
The pair play collectively for France and had earlier greeted one another warmly earlier than the match.
Cherki, who joined Metropolis from Lyon final summer time, then placed on the Liverpool shirt whereas he sat down – and was shortly alerted to his fake pas, seemingly by a member of Metropolis’s teaching workers.
Rayan Cherki begins to placed on Big Ekitike’s shirt… earlier than taking it off and apologising
He then took off the shirt and raised his arm in apology.
The weird incident raised eyebrows on social media, with Metropolis outlet CityXtra posting an image of the incident on X alongside the message: ‘What are you doing?’ alongside a laughing emoji.
Ekitike additionally got here in for criticism for his determination to swap shirts earlier than the top of the sport.
One person remarked: ‘Hugo Ekitike swapping shirts with Rayan Cherki when it’s 4-0 tells you the whole lot you might want to find out about this squad in the meanwhile. Heads within the clouds.’
One other added: ‘Ekitike has swapped shirts with Cherki? On the sixtieth minute once we’re getting hammered 4-0? Surprising. Membership is within the gutter.’
It was a poor search for each gamers however Ekitike specifically, whose determination to swap shirts whereas his staff have been receiving a hammering incensed supporters.
The striker was unable to make a big affect within the recreation for the Reds on a nightmare afternoon for Arne Slot’s males.
After a brilliant sufficient begin, Virgil van Dijk then fouled Nico O’Reilly within the space and Erling Haaland transformed from the spot.
Simply earlier than the break, it was Haaland once more who doubled the benefit, heading in an Antoine Semenyo cross.
Cherki was going to put on the Ekitike shirt on the bench however was swiftly informed to not
Semenyo himself then chipped one dwelling earlier than Haaland accomplished his hat-trick.
Liverpool followers have been seen streaming for the exits properly forward of full-time and those that missed the Ekitike shirt incident will little doubt be unimpressed.
The Frenchman has endured a powerful debut season on Merseyside regardless of the membership’s struggles however there have been flashpoints of immaturity.
Earlier within the marketing campaign, he acquired a second yellow card for taking his shirt of in celebration in a Carabo Cup win over Southampton.
It led to him lacking the following recreation in opposition to Crystal Palace, which Liverpool went on to lose.
Slot described it as ‘useless’ and ‘silly’, whereas Ekitike added: ‘The emotion received the higher of me. My apologies to all of the Purple household.’
Cherki has additionally hit the headlines for his behaviour this season.
Rayan Cherki and Hugo Ekitike have been all smiles collectively earlier than their sides met on the Etihad
Earlier than the worldwide break, Cherki refused to apologise for showboating within the Carabao Cup ultimate in opposition to Arsenal, which Metropolis gained 2-0.
After the Wembley conflict Cherki stated: ‘To the Arsenal followers? I am not sorry. Folks assume it was disrespect… no, it was intentional. I grew up watching Nani within the FA Cup doing the identical factor to Arsenal – pure confidence, pure freedom.
‘So once I had the second, I did it for a motive. Not simply to entertain… however to remind them. Some golf equipment, while you really feel they’re susceptible, you don’t simply beat them… you play with them.’
