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Real Madrid will alter the crown on top of their badge to eliminate the traditional christian cross on team apparel that sells in various countries in the Middle East.

FUTBOL 16/17Zinedine Zidane with the Real Madrid crest behind him. AGUILERA (DIARIO AS)

Marka, a distribution group from the United Arab Emirates have obtained the exclusive rights to "manufacture, distribute and sell Real Madrid products" in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, the company said in a press release on Tuesday.

Cultural sensitivities

The vide-president of Marka, Khaled al-Mheiri, told reuters that the badge was being altered because of cultural sensitivities. "We have to be careful with regions of the Gulf where there is sensitivity about products that have a cross," said al-Mheiri, owner of a Real Madrid cafe in Dubai.

It is not the first time the symbol has been altered. In 2014, Real Madrid eliminated the Christian cross in its logo when it was used by its sponsor the National Bank of Abu Dhabi.