Simon Jordan has slammed Liverpool supporters for ‘antagonising’ Diego Simeone during Wednesday’s Champions League clash.
Liverpool wrapped up a win over Atletico Madrid thanks to a stoppage time winner scored by Virgil van Dijk in injury time. There was plenty of action both on and off the pitch as tempers flared on the touchlines.
Diego Simeone was visibly frustrated after the late goal and went over to confront a supporter who he claims was insulting him. The Argentine boss was sent off as a result of his actions, but the fan involved in the incident has spoken out to defend himself.
He recorded a video where he called Simeone a ‘coward’ for refusing to confirm to the media that he had not said anything racist or referenced the Falklands war. The Atletico manager instead walked out of his interview.
The man accused has claimed Simeone gave as good as he got to the Liverpool supporters, while he alleged that his assistant coach had spat at him. The Mirror confirm UEFA are considering opening an investigation after a video was uploaded on social media appearing to capture the moment in question.
However, Simon Jordan has chosen to ignore Simeone’s role in the incident, pinning the blame on Liverpool supporters for escalating the situation.
He told talkSPORT: “I’m going to say something that’s probably going to make Liverpool fans incandescent and fuel the narrative that for some reason I dislike Liverpool, which I most certainly do not.
“I have to say, having taken teams there and scored goals against Liverpool, against their fans, they are terrible losers. They don’t like it, like most fans, don’t like it. They think they’re entitled to say exactly what they want to you if you score a goal.
Jordan went on to recall a time when Liverpool’s supporters were furious when his team’s board of directors celebrated a goal at Anfield.
“I remember when we played them in the FA Cup,” Jordan continued. “I think Danny Murphy was playing in the game, and we scored a goal.
“And rightly so, not so much me, but the Board of Directors I had there, got up and celebrated the goal, and were instantaneously set upon by Liverpool fans and instantaneously set upon by the stewards, saying, basically, sit down. We don’t want you celebrating.”
“Physically, verbally. So, you know, basically, because the only people that are entitled to score at Anfield are, of course, Liverpool. If anyone else scores, it’s a massive imposition, and they should be subjected to a whole raft of observations upon the fact.”
Jordan was then asked if most fans of other clubs behaved in the same way and he was quick to state otherwise.
“No, no, not at all,” Jordan said. “But that’s why I make the point. Because I’ve been to many clubs, and all of the clubs, probably most of the clubs in the country, I’ve been at and sat in the director’s box and seen my team score and lose and take and take these things in equal measure.”
“The reasons why I make this particular observation is because it really surprised me. It surprised me with the level of energy that was spent basically saying, sit down and shut up. You know?”
“Well, my teams are not, it was directed to my directors because I didn’t celebrate goals the way other people do, because I expected my team to score. That’s what I paid them to do. So I wasn’t quite in that mode of celebrating when we score goals, because that’s what we’re there for. “
“But I just found it something that I really react because I thought, because I grew up, you know, watching Liverpool, supporting Liverpool, admiring Kevin Keegan and Emily Hughes, the ‘77 team that won the the European Cup, and collecting the cards as a kid and thinking it was a wonderful football club.”
Jordan remains fond of Liverpool as a club and has acknowledged how good their fanbase is, but the issue of refusing to let other teams celebrate is a huge problem for him.
He said: “So when I took Palace up there and played them, I don’t like him, I didn’t warm to them at all. I think they’re wonderful supporters, no doubt about it. I think it’s a wonderful Football Club.”
“But there is that attitude that if you score against and they don’t like it, they’ll give it to you. And of course, they give it to you. Every club gives it to you, but it was different at Liverpool, different. Honestly, I’m telling you, that’s what I’m saying. I’m not saying it to get a click. I’m not saying it to be controversial. I remember coming away thinking, Who do you not think you are?”
“I mean, the fact of the matter was, their chairman at the time gave me a little mascot saying, This is what we give to the small clubs when they come up here. That might be rotating, that might be irritating as well, but it was that experience. I’m not telling you. I’m not making it up. I’m not trying to get a rise.”
The former Crystal Palace chairman is anticipating abuse from Liverpool supporters for his comments.
He added: “Out of people, and I’m sure I’ll get one, and I’m sure I’ll get when this is clipped and cropped, and a bunch of Liverpool fans will tell me everything from fact I don’t have a mother up to whatever else.”
He could well come across to some as being entitled following his rant. After all, celebrating whilst sitting in the midst of an opposing fanbase always comes with a risk factor. However, the carnage involving Simeone is not the first time a Liverpool fan has made headlines for the wrong reasons.
During Liverpool’s first Premier League match of the season, a supporter was removed from the stadium and arrested for reportedly racially abusing Antoine Semenyo
