Manchester City will once again refuse to wear Emirates sleeve patches in FA Cup games this season due to a disagreement with sponsor Etihad.

The league is sponsored by Emirates, a Dubai-based airline, and City begin their title defense against Huddersfield Town at home on Sunday afternoon.

Teams competing in the FA Cup often wear a rectangular red patch with the competition emblem and Emirates branding on one sleeve.

When Emirates became the FA Cup’s sponsor in 2015, City were granted an exemption from wearing the patch since its sponsors Etihad, located in Abu Dhabi, are a direct competitor in the aviation business.

City did not wear the red Emirates patches in the May final, although rival Manchester United did. City triumphed 2-1 to complete the second leg of their Treble.

Manchester City do not wear the Emirates FA Cup sleeve patch in competition because it clashes with their main shirt sponsor Etihad, a competing airline.

Manchester United players sporting the Emirates patch at the FA Cup final last year

Pep Guardiola had little option but to hold a press conference in front of a red Emirates backdrop on Friday to preview City’s third-round clash with Huddersfield Town.

In the 2019 final, when City smashed Watford 6-0, they took a subtle jab at Emirates by changing the wording of their front-of-shirt sponsor from ‘Etihad Airways’ to ‘Choose Etihad’.

However, City cannot completely ignore the bright red Emirates branding that surrounds the competition, with manager Pep Guardiola holding his pre-match press conference in front of such a backdrop on Friday.

When they won the FA Cup at Wembley last year, Emirates was also inscribed on the blue ribbons tied to the trophy.

City will be heavy favorites to advance to the third round against Huddersfield, who are just one spot above the relegation zone in the Championship.

Guardiola may be without midfielder Rodri and striker Erling Haaland against the Terriers.

Rodri could miss the game due to his grandmother’s death, while Haaland hasn’t played since December 6 due to a foot issue.

City wore ‘Choose Etihad’ shirts in their 2019 FA Cup final victory over Watford.

Arnaut Danjuma of Everton wears the Emirates patch against Crystal Palace on Thursday night.

Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku have returned to training after injuries, but Guardiola may keep them out of next Saturday’s Premier League game against Newcastle.

The City manager also stated that Bernardo Silva, Kalvin Phillips, Matheus Nunes, and Scott Carson were all ill.