Manchester City have been drawn against Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarter-final.
A trip to the Vitality Stadium stands between Manchester City making yet another appearance at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final, although it will not be an easy game by any means, after the Cherries defeated the Citizens by a 2-1 scoreline in Premier League action back in November.
Bournemouth could have won by even more goals during that eventful game, so Pep Guardiola will be wary of Andoni Iraola – although the Spaniard will hope for a better refereeing display than the bizarre performance shown by Brian Coddington back in 1999.
When Manchester City saw Kevin Horlock sent off for walking
During a third division clash between Bournemouth and Manchester City at Dean Court in the 1998/99 campaign, the Citizens had both Jamie Pollock and Kevin Horlock dismissed for two bookable offences.
The former was justly sent off for two unquestionably late challenges – although Joe Royle, manager of Manchester City at the time, was informed the latter received his marching orders for walking towards the aforementioned Coddington in an “aggressive manner” on the halfway line.
Years later, Horlock told David Mooney: “There’d been a tackle about a minute before on the halfway line and I was just walking towards the ref to question it. I didn’t even speak and that’s the craziest thing. In his report, it said I didn’t say anything to him.”
Coddington added his own input when speaking on the Blue Moon Podcast, saying: “After the match, Joe Royle asked if he could come into the dressing room to speak to me about the incident, which I agreed that he could do. He asked me to explain the incident and I said that the player walked towards me in an aggressive manner and then delivered his tirade of abuse.
“Royle subsequently spoke to the press and the aggressive walking story was born. The facts are that the player was dismissed for foul and abusive language.”
Having failed to include that final detail in his match report – however – Coddington ended up being responsible for one of the strangest red cards in English football history.
How much Manchester City could win in FA Cup prize money if Bournemouth are defeated
It is a drop in the ocean for a club as wealthy as Manchester City – who want Florian Wirtz – although Guardiola will still secure the Citizens a sum of £450,000 if he knocks Bournemouth out of the FA Cup.
£1m will then be awarded in the event of a semi-final victory, with a £2m prize awaiting the winners of the FA Cup.
