Why Players Don’t Step on Club’s Crest After Real Madrid Players Avoid Manchester City’s

• Real Madrid players sparked a debate online after they skipped over Manchester City's logo
• Jude Bellingham and the rest of his teammates jumped over the logo on the floor of the tunnel
• Luis Suarez and Erling Haaland are among other players who've skipped over opponents' logos

Videos of Real Madrid players intentionally avoiding stepping on Manchester City's crest at the Etihad Stadium tunnel surfaced online ahead of their Champions League clash on April 17.

For the third season in a row, the Spanish giants flew to England to take on Manchester City in a decisive tie. The first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu was a high-scoring encounter that ended in a three-all draw.

As the players headed out for a training session the day prior, they were spotted stepping over the huge Manchester City crest on the floor of the tunnel leading out to the pitch.

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The actions, as if choreographed, reawakened questions as to why players avoid stepping on club logos, whether those of their own team or opponents.

In January 2022, Vinicius Junior hopped over Real Madrid's logo during their game against Valencia. The ball had trickled out of play, and the Brazilian was agonizingly close to stepping on the logo but jumped over it on time.

Later that year, Luis Suarez purposefully ensured his then-Atletico Madrid teammates, Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Correa, did not step on Manchester City's crest ahead of their Champions League tie at the Etihad.

Why players don't step on logos

So, why do many players prefer tiptoeing around the logos? Other players step on it, as was the case when Manchester City hosted Borussia Dortmund in 2021. Only Erling Haaland, who later joined them, jumped over it.

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For starters, stepping on a club's logo is not illegal. It is not included anywhere in the IFAB Laws and Conduct, which explains the confusion when players jump over it.

The feasible reason is one of respect. Not walking over the team's emblem is seen as a sign of respect. Vinicius Junior is on record saying, 'You don't step on; it, you kiss it,' in reference to his jump over Madrid's crest, as quoted by Marca.

So next time you see a player purposefully jump over a team's logo, it's all about good sportsmanship.

After showing the hist team 'respect', Carlo Ancelotti's side went ahead to knock out the defending champions from the competition. Kevin De Bruyne cancelled out Rodrygo's opener to take the game all the way to penalties, where the record champions triumphed.

Why Haaland, De Bruyne were taken off

Sports Brief also reported Pep Guardiola's explanation for withdrawing both Haaland and De Bruyne during their game against Real Madrid.

Haaland was surprisingly hooked off at the start of extra time, while De Bruyne was taken off eight minutes from the end of extra time, thereby missing the penalty shootout.