Why are Atlético Madrid fans throwing toilet paper in the game against Arsenal in the Champions League?
Atlético Madrid fans planned a special welcome for their side ahead of the game against Arsenal.
The Atlético Madrid fans prepared a special welcome for their team as they took to the pitch ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final game against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Instead of the usual flares, smoke bombs, and a tifo created by an art student, the rojiblanco fans decided that toilet roll was the best welcome they could give their players.
Raining toilet roll is not something that happens much in Europe. Or elsewhere, for that matter. However, despite it’s perhaps dirty connotations, the gesture of throwing these homemade confetti streamers is one of support and occurs all across Argentina.
An abundance of ticker tape creates an image synonymous with Argentine football, and the Atlético Madrid ultras group, the Frente Atlético, had posted various messages urging fans to arrive at the stadium early to cheer on the team and throw toilet paper rolls that will cascade down the stands.
The links to Argentina at Atlético’s current team are strong: their manager, Diego Pablo Simeone, is an Argentine football legend. Added to that, Atlético’s main attacker, Julián Álvarez, won the 2022 World Cup with the Albiceleste.
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