Real Madrid first unveiled a crest with a cross on top of a crown in 1920, and have displayed a similar crest uninterrupted since 1941. The crest doesn't have a cross because the club has any particular religious affiliation, but simply because that's what the royal monogram of King Alfonso XIII (and many others) looked like.

But this is not 1920, and Real Madrid's reach has expanded far beyond Spain. They're signing extremely lucrative sponsorship deals in the Middle East, and one such deal in Abu Dhabi has caused them to adopt an alternative version of the crest without the cross. It should be noted that Madrid haven't changed their crest, they just use a different one in countries where it doesn't make business sense to have an affiliation with Christianity, or display any Christian imagery as part of their crest at all.

Madrid have been a soulless corporate entity concerned with winning at all costs since ... well, forever, basically, but this seems to be a tipping point for some people, and a sign that the sport has now truly gone mad.

That RT re: Real Madrid might be the most soulless thing I've seen in world football. And this business is mad soulless. Like a TSwift show. — Shawn Francis (@TheOffsideRules) November 29, 2014

@GrayConnolly @montie The lows that a football club will stoop too, for the almighty Arabian dollar. How soulless Real Madrid are. — Elizabeth R (@elizabethrosie) November 27, 2014

Clear where power lies in modern football if Real Madrid have changed their logo to accommodate a sponsor. #rmcf http://t.co/uk3YrDAyJw — Simon Ward (@siwardsport) November 28, 2014

Real Madrid removes Christian cross from its crest just for business. This is modern football. pic.twitter.com/kqmPL4mCXJ — Lawrence S. (@lawrencesiloni) November 27, 2014

Madrid remove cross from crest to appease Abu Dhabi bank http://t.co/VvmBRolQRs pic.twitter.com/tJU3tRYEQV" WHATS WRONG WITH MODERN FOOTBALL — seamus lalor™ (@topmanlalor) November 26, 2014

Alfonso XIII is rolling over in his grave, we're sure.