Diego Simeone has received a UEFA punishment after his touchline clash with a Liverpool supporter during his side’s Champions League defeat at Anfield.
Liverpool’s 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid was filled with drama. There were twists and turns, but eventually the home team scored the winning goal, as Virgil van Dijk found the back of the net with a stoppage time header.
The action packed match should have been talked about for what happened on the pitch, but it was overshadowed by the pitch-side antics of Diego Simeone. The Atletico Madrid manager clashed with a Liverpool fan and was sent off by the referee.
He is not the only one in hot water after the Champions League fixture. Liverpool have been hit with a £3.5K fine due to supporters hurling objects during the match.
However, Simeone has also learned his punishment. The Uruguayan boss has been banned for one game, meaning he will not be allowed to take his place in the managerial dugout when Atletico Madrid host Eintracht Frankfurt tonight.
Simeone did not attempt to justify his actions after the incident, but he did defend himself. He said in his press conference: “They always talk about taking care of each other, but they insult you throughout the entire match and you can’t say anything because you’re the manager,” he explained.
“My reaction was unjustifiable, but do you know what it’s like to be insulted for 90 minutes, to turn around after the opponent scores and still be insulted? It’s not that easy.
“[The referee told me] he understood me. I hope Liverpool can improve that aspect and that when they identify the person who did that, there will be consequences.”
Simeone was unwilling to describe what the Liverpool supporters said, but he did reveal how they made gestures and insulted him.
“There were insults throughout the match, including gestures,” he continued. “It’s clear that I’m the one who has to stay calm, I have to put up with the insults, the gestures and any situation. Because I’m in a position where I have to put up with it.
“I’m not really going to get into the exact nature of the insults. I don’t want to get involved in that. I have got to stay in my place, I know what went on behind the manager’s bench. I can’t solve society’s problem in one press conference. I have to live with it as it exists all over the place all of the time.”
Liverpool will be playing Galatasaray at the same time as Atletico’s clash with Frankfurt. While Atletico could really use a victory, the Premier League champions will be feeling positive with three points already on the board.
