LE SCAN SPORT – Ben White triggered the anger of Giuliano and Diego Simeone after walking on the Atletico logo while heading towards the dressing rooms at the end of the match between the Madrid team and the Gunners.
It was a harmless action that could have gone unnoticed. However, Giuliano Simeone paid attention to it. At the end of the game between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal, which ended in a 1-1 draw, the twenty-two players were heading towards the dressing rooms when Ben White stepped on a large logo of the Colchoneros painted on the ground, which players usually try to avoid.
Giuliano Simeone, just behind the English defender at that moment, interpreted this attitude as a lack of respect and quickly let Ben White know by calling out to him and asking for an explanation, before being pulled away by his father and coach Diego. Instead of calming the situation, the Argentine coach sided with the Arsenal player by pushing him slightly, which only served to tense the atmosphere.
Both men were separated by staff members from Atletico and stadium security. Arsenal’s midfielder Declan Rice also stepped on the logo of the Madrid club a few seconds after Ben White, without anyone noticing and therefore without being reprimanded. Tensions will be high for the return leg semi-final in London next Tuesday (9pm).
