The magic of the FA Cup took a lewd turn during the extra preliminary round on Saturday, when a player was sent off for indecent exposure after being told by the referee to prove he had removed an unlawful pair of cycling shorts.

In a case which left FA historians scratching their heads for precedent, Louis Blake of Croydon Athletic was shown a red card for producing the kind of tackle nobody wants to see on the football field.

His side were already 5-2 down to Colliers Wood when he was given his marching orders, so hardly a decisive factor in the eventual 6-2 defeat, but it angered manager Antony Williams and led to him being sent off too.

Blake had arrived as a substitute midway through the second half wearing black cycling lycra rolled up underneath Croydon’s maroon shorts.

But when they began to fall down the referee noticed and ordered their removal as the colour clash was not allowed.

The player obliged by the touchline but when attempting to return minutes later, the referee asked for proof.

Perhaps irritated by the suggestion, Blake showed a bit too much flesh.