Atletico Madrid files a complaint to UEFA regarding Arsenal

An unusual situation happened right before the Champions League game between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, as the away team found they could not take hot showers after training at the Emirates, forcing Arsenal to issue a formal apology.

On the evening of October 20th, Atletico Madrid held a practice session at the Emirates as required 24 hours before the match against Arsenal. However, after training in the cold London rain, the players discovered that the hot water system in the locker rooms was not functioning. This problem affected both the home and away changing rooms, leaving no one able to properly use the showers.

According to Emirates staff, the issue was reported around 6:45 PM and was fully resolved close to 7:25 PM. Nevertheless, Atletico decided to end their training 15 minutes early and return to the hotel to shower, rather than waiting in the cold. A source from the Spanish team stated: “Although a minor issue, it caused significant inconvenience. The players were tired after training and having to go back to the hotel under these conditions is unacceptable at a stadium like Emirates.”

Atletico Madrid reportedly expressed strong dissatisfaction and even submitted a complaint to UEFA, arguing that the facilities did not meet the standards required for Champions League teams. A member of the coaching staff expressed frustration: “We come to compete in Europe’s most prestigious tournament and expect at least basic living conditions. This is not just inconvenient, it’s disrespectful.”

Arsenal quickly acknowledged the fault and issued an official apology to Atletico Madrid. The London club confirmed the incident was due to an unexpected technical failure in the stadium’s hot water system, with no intentional neglect or oversight by the organizers. An Arsenal spokesperson said: “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused and immediately conducted a thorough inspection and maintenance of the system to ensure this does not happen again.”

UEFA regulations require Champions League host stadiums to meet all facility standards, including hot water availability in locker rooms. However, this mainly applies on official match days and not necessarily for pre-match training sessions. Nevertheless, this incident still impacted Emirates’ professional image, especially considering it is one of the most modern stadiums in England.

Atletico Madrid is currently in London preparing for their third group stage match against Arsenal. The team, led by coach Diego Simeone, is said to have regained morale after receiving an apology from their opponents, but the incident remains a hot topic in Spanish media.

A Madrid sports newspaper commented: “Arsenal might have faced a technical glitch, but from the Spanish perspective, this is unacceptable at the Champions League level.”

Although quickly resolved, the “hot water” issue at Emirates became a notable off-field story, reminding Europe’s top clubs that professionalism extends beyond the pitch to every detail of event organization.

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