Crestfallen: Simeone, White, a mistake and a badge of honour
The Simeones versus Ben White in the strange case of stepping on the Atletico Madrid club crest was not high on my Champions League bingo card this week. We know Diego Simeone could start a fight in an empty stadium but actually it was more his son, Giuliano, more aggrieved at the Arsenal defender for accidentally walking across the Atletico crest as he left the field, an act stirring disapproval from Spanish observers. This is a case of symbolism, differences in footballing cultures and an innocent mistake.
It’s possible to see both sides. White is clearly blameless. He’s caught up in the emotion of the game, adrenalin still pumping, and heading back to the dressing-room. Those who know White say he’s all in on football when training and on match-days but switches off instantly when away from the work environment. It’s one of the reasons why this “doesn’t like football” narrative has grown up around White, who controversially quit England during the Qatar World Cup. This case is completely different; it’s because he’s too involved in the match rollercoaster that he doesn’t notice the crest. It’s not a lack of respect. It’s also not so much of an issue in England.
For the Simeones, it’s important that visitors show respect. The crest is understandably hugely significant, and Spanish clubs are very sensitive about not standing on it. Jude Bellingham walked around Atletico’s crest when Real Madrid played there in 2023. Real’s players like Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe were pictured taking a detour around Manchester City’s emblem when emerging on the field at Etihad in 2024.