Real Madrid Legends On ‘Guard Of Honour’ Debate

Former Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro as well as his ex-teammate Guti have insisted it is right to give your rivals a Guard of Honour.

Just like in South Africa, a huge debate over the Guard of Honour has erupted in Spain after Atletico Madrid defender Jose Gimenez stated his side will not give newly crowned LaLiga champions, Real a Guard of Honour ahead of the Madrid derby on Sunday, because they have to “respect their own fans”.

However, both the former Los Blancos players insisted giving a Guard of Honour to their rivals is the right thing to do.

“I’ve been a winner and the opponents made the guard of honour for me,” Hierro said during a conference call, which iDiski Times journalists David Kappel and Lorenz Kohler attended.

“I’ve been on both ends of that situation, we also gave a guard of honour before.

“I really don’t want all the discussion about the situation, whether to do it or not, whether it was done seven years ago or not.

“I think the champions are worthy of the recognition. If it was my decision I would do it, because it’s a way of receiving the recognition from your rivals about something that you’ve won and proven on the pitch.

“It’s as simple as that.”

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José María Gutiérrez Hernández, better known as Guti, even went one further and stated that the team handing out a Guard of Honour deserves even more respect in his opinion.

“We were proud that we were given a guard of honour, it’s as simple as that. It’s a show of respect,” he added.

“I think if you having a rival making a guard of honour, I think this is really something that makes you greater – not the team that is receiving the guard of honour but the team that is giving the guard of honour. 

“Myself, all I can is that I felt proud. It was very difficult to win that league and I think it was a nice gesture, something that the rivals did for us and that’s it.”

In South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns have been crowned champions already and Sekhukhune United gave them a Guard of Honour on Tuesday evening, with Kaizer Chiefs, Royal AM and Marumo Gallants also expected to give them the respect they deserve.

Sekhukhune United have just given new #DStvPrem champions Mamelodi Sundowns a well-deserved Guard of Honour. 👏 pic.twitter.com/3S1uZoTwq1

— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) May 3, 2022

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