Arsenal’s Ben White was involved in a tunnel altercation with Diego Simeone after appearing to anger Atletico Madrid players by walking over their club badge by the side of the Metropolitano pitch.
The Arsenal defender was approached by Giuliano Simeone, the Atletico winger and Simeone’s son, who pointed to the giant crest White had walked over as he went down the tunnel.
Footage shared by Marca shows the pair then exchanged words before Diego Simeone pulled Giuliano back. But White then responded to the Atletico manager and tempers were high as they went down the tunnel and disappeared from view, with members of staff from both teams intervening.
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In Spain, it is considered disrespectful to step on club badges and many players take a deliberate attempt to avoid walking on them, even if they are take up a significant amount of space near the tunnel area.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, for example, made an effort to avoid walking over Manchester City’s badge while walking out from the tunnel before a Champions League match at the Etihad a couple of seasons ago.
Tensions were high between the teams before the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, with Arsenal requesting a pitch inspection before kick-off due to the length of the grass at the Metropolitano.
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White was also involved in one of the three penalty incidents that dominated the 1-1 draw in Madrid, with the Arsenal right back conceding a penalty for handball after Viktor Gyokeres had scored from the spot.
Mikel Arteta was left “incredibly fuming” by a controversial late VAR decision to overturn a second Arsenal penalty for a foul on Eberechi Eze, despite apparent contact from the Atletico Madrid defender David Hancko.
Arteta said: “In the manner that we conceded the penalty, we were disappointed. In the Premier League, it’s not a penalty, but here I have to accept that this is handball.
“But what I’m incredibly fuming with is how the hell the penalty on Eze gets overturned in the manner that it happened when there is no clear and obvious error? This changes the course of the game. And at this level, I’m sorry but this cannot happen.
“When a referee has to watch it 13 times, what is clear about that? It’s impossible and we are all fuming about it. We need to apply the rules.
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“When you have fought so hard for nine months to be in this position, that goal could have completely changed the course of the tie. And it cannot happen. I’m sorry. We put so much on it. So, so, so much on it. This cannot happen.”
Meanwhile, a brief statement from Uefa said: “Atleti player, No 17, did not commit a foul on the opponent.”
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