Players don’t step on Club’s crest: Real Madrid players avoid Manchester City’s, and here is why

Players have generated conversations on refusing to step on the crest of their football clubs or their opponents. Prior to their Champions League match on April 17, videos showing Real Madrid players purposefully avoiding walking on Manchester City’s crest at the Etihad Stadium tunnel went viral. The Spanish behemoths travelled to England for a pivotal match against Manchester City for the third season running. After a high-scoring match at the Santiago Bernabeu, the first leg concluded in a three-all draw.

The day before, the players were seen crossing the enormous Manchester City crest on the floor of the tunnel leading to the pitch as they left for a training session. The movements, which appeared to be coordinated, raised new concerns about why players never walk on rival or team emblems.

Vinicius Junior leaped over Real Madrid’s logo during their match against Valencia in January 2022. The Brazilian narrowly avoided treading on the logo after the ball had trickled out of play, but he managed to hop over it in time.

Later that year, Luis Suarez made it a point to make sure Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Correa, his colleagues at Atletico Madrid at the time, did not tread on Manchester City’s crest before their Champions League match at the Etihad. Why then do a lot of players favour being cautious around the logos? When Manchester City hosted Borussia Dortmund in 2021, other players stepped on it. Erling Haaland was the only one to leap over it before he joined them.

Firstly, it’s not against the law to walk on a sports team’s logo. The IFAB Laws of Conduct make no mention of it, which clarifies why players get confused when they skip over it. Respect is a reasonable explanation. Refusing to step on the team’s emblem is regarded as a respectful gesture. According to Marca, Vinicius Junior is known to have said, “You don’t step on; you kiss it,” in reference to his leap over Madrid’s crest.

Thus, the next time you witness a player deliberately vaulting over a team’s emblem, remember that sportsmanship is paramount.
Following their display of “respect” for the other team, Carlo Ancelotti’s group eliminated the reigning champions from contention. Rodrygo’s first goal was cancelled out by Kevin De Bruyne, forcing penalties that ultimately decided the match and sending the record champions to victory.

Watch some videos below:

Luis Suárez tells Ángel Correa and Rodrigo de Paul to walk around the Man City crest. Respect 🙏

(via @Atleti) pic.twitter.com/1Zye67AfeY

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 5, 2022

🇪🇸👏 Real Madrid players did not step on Manchester City's logo during their training session at the Etihad. pic.twitter.com/5Yh7n3cfLK

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) April 17, 2024

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