Want to get the day’s sports headlines delivered straight to your inbox?Our FREE newsletter will keep you ahead of the curve
We have newsletters
Want to get the day’s sports headlines delivered straight to your inbox?Our FREE newsletter will keep you ahead of the curve
We have newsletters
Atletico Madrid’s decision to celebrate the famous match of misfortune by wearing a special kit at Celtic Park on Wednesday has been described as “in bad taste”.
The Spaniards are on the verge of ditching their famous red-and-white jersey for a reproduction of the one they wore in Glasgow 49 years ago, when 3 men were sent off, seven were cautioned and the Hoops were sent off the park in a toxic 0-0 draw.
Atletico were widely condemned for their behaviour at Parkhead that night, and the police even intervened to break up the altercations, despite having received only a £14,000 fine through UEFA.
Celtic fans have been pleaded not to travel for the second leg to Spain and death threats have been issued against Jimmy Johnstone and his manager Jock Stein. The Spaniards won the second leg 2–0, with Rodriguez scoring the second goal of the night. They were eventually beaten 4-0 in the final by Bayern Munich after a replay.
Celtic legend Tommy Callaghan questioned Atletico’s wisdom wearing a striped reproduction, calling it “bad taste”. He said: “I don’t know if Atletico have forgotten everything about 1974 and what happened.
“I don’t think there’s ever a game like this. In fact, it’s tacky to wear that tape and it’s a bit degrading and maybe they’re looking to pass a little bit after Celtic, it’s incendiary.
“It’s the club that’s going to get angry and the rest of the people who are still at Celtic and the fans who were there at the time. A lot of us left, but we don’t quite forget what happened. “
Atletico legend Miguel Reina admitted that teammate Ruben Diaz may have decapitated Jimmy Johnstone with one of his tackles in an interview a few years ago and Diaz himself admitted he would have been jailed for attacking beaten Celta if he had. I carried them out today. But Atletico plans to honor their team starting today by wearing a special old-fashioned stripe.
The club’s president, Enrique Cerezo, said: “This Wednesday we will meet a historic club in a mythical stadium, Celtic Park, where we will have the honour of reliving a duel that, a century later, is still in everyone’s memory. Atletico players.
And Atletico’s captain that night, 84-year-old Adelardo Rodríguez, added: “For all the players who played in that game and that wonderful European Cup, it’s a huge popularity that fifty seasons later the team is dressed in the same kit. back at Celtic Park.
“It fills us with pride now, as it filled us with pride then. That semi-final was very special, we had just won the league last season and we knocked out a European champion at a very smart moment in our career.
Get the latest sports titles delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.