Football fans on social media believe they have found the 'dumbest thing in football' after being left confused as to why several Real Madrid players avoided walking on Manchester City's club crest. 

It came ahead of their decisive Champions League quarter-final clash at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, with City having held Real Madrid to a 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu in the first leg of this fixture, thanks in part to the brilliance of Phil Foden.

The England star scored a stunning long ranged effort after half-time to help bring City back level at 2-2 after Real Madrid took the advantage through an own goal from Ruben Dias, which was quickly followed up by a superb indificual effort from Rodrygo. 

Josko Gvardiol and Federico Valverde would score equally excellent goals to see both sides share the spoils at 3-3 after what was a thrilling contest. It means it's all to play for in Wednesday night's fixture with City set to host Real at the Etihad. 

And Carlo Ancelotti's side have been pictured preparing for tonights fixture, with the Madrid team stepping out onto the pitch ahead of what appeared to be a team-run at the Etihad. 

Football fans were confused after Real Madrid's players avoided walking on the Man City crest

Several key players including Vinicius Jnr were seen walking out onto the pitch, but fans noticed that a number of their team avoided stepping on the Man City crest that is emblazoned on the floor of the tunnel at the Etihad.

Whether the players were being resectful or are just superstitious is unknown, however it is not the first time a group of players have avoided stepping on a club badge on the ground. 

Some fans have been left perplexed at the bizarre practice, with one claiming that a petition should be set up to stop clubs from putting badges on the floor. 

'Petition to remove Club badges off the floor so we don’t have this sillyness everytime,' one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

'I'm once again not understanding why you'd put a MASSIVE logo on the floor right by an entrance if you think it's disrespectful to walk on it,' another added. 

Jude Bellingham demonstrated his respect for Real's rivals, Atletico Madrid in September, after he avoided walking on the iconic blue, red and white badge as he exited the pitch.

Real Madrid's Marcelo was once left crestfallen after he accidentially stepped on Man City's club badge at the side of the Etihad Stadium as his side prepared for their Champions League semi-final last season. 

One of Marcelo's team-mates can be seen gesturing towards the badge, with the Madrid defender raising his hands to his head in disbelief. One added: 'Petition to remove Club badges off the floor so we don’t have this sillyness everytime.'

'Dumbest thing in football. It’s a carpet. If you don’t want it walked on don’t put it on the floor,' said, in reaction to the video of the players walking out onto the pitch. 

'The badge is literally on imprinted on the floor,' one added. 

It seems players aren't the only ones though who don't want to stand on a club's crest, with TNT Sport's pundit Rio Ferdinand once asking for a last-minute change to the broadcaster's pitchside set up at the Bernabeu in 2023.

Ferdinand, who was set to provide punditry insights on Chelsea's Champions League match against Real Madrid last season, explained that the pitchside table for the live broadcast had been placed infront of the Real Madrid club crest. 

He refused to stand on the crest to avoid disrespecting the Spanish giants.  

He said: 'I think we need to have a conversation here Coley… what are they asking us to do mate?'

Cole responded saying: 'They're asking us to stand on the Real Madrid badge. You can't do that man!'

He then stated that they were switching up the set: 'This is where we meant to stand. We need to speak to the floor manager and have a word, we can't do that. We're going to roll it up so we don't stand on the badge.'