As Celtic fans might be aware, there’s been a bit of a furore ahead of their clash with Atlético Madrid in the Champions League this week.
The whole matter boils down to the Spanish side’s decision to wear a special jersey against Brendan Rodgers side. An all red shirt that commemorates their 1974 clash with Celtic, which is seen as one of football’s dirtiest ever games after Atlético saw three red cards and seven more yellows.
That European Cup semi-final against Celtic saw Atletico fined £14k while the likes of Jimmy Johnstone and Jock Stein were issued death threats and so Atlético’s decision to wear the kit has caused outrage among Celtic fans, journalists and everyone else. Except, it’s not what it seems according to journalist Roberto Gómez.
He’s covered the Spanish side’s decision to wear the shirt today for El Desmarque as part of pre-match coverage ahead of the game at Celtic Park tomorrow.
He, like the rest of the Spanish press, are more than aware of the furore being kicked up around Celtic over the shirts but says it was not a decision made with the intent of upsetting anyone.
“There has been a lot of talk about the shirt that the Los Rojiblancos will wear,” he said.
“The history of the shirt is as follows; it is not a copy of the one that was worn 50 years ago. The story is, in fact, very simple.
“UEFA sent a letter to Atlético Madrid talking about the clothing that the red and white team will wear. UEFA stated that Atlético cannot always play with their shirt with the white stripes.
“But the second shirt that Atlético have this season is the green one, which clashes with Celtic’s and Atlético don’t have a third or fourth shirt.
“In the Atlético office and store there are 2,000 red shirts with the real badge, the lifelong badge. Those shirts were presented to UEFA, they gave the okay and, after many days, said they are playing in that. It’s a decision which occurred entirely by chance.”
Whether the media around Celtic will believe that remains to be seen… it must be said the Spanish club do have a blue and white shirt which is supposed to be their away strip this season.
🔴 El Atleti jugará en Glasgow con una camiseta completamente roja. ¿Por qué?
Roberto Gómez desvela en 𝐄𝐥𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐚 el verdadero motivo del cambio. pic.twitter.com/CNYy80yD2T
— ElDesmarque (@eldesmarque) October 24, 2023
