UEFA Hands Simeone One-Match Ban After Clash With Liverpool Fans

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has been hit with a one-match suspension by UEFA for what the governing body described as “unsporting conduct” during his side’s fiery Champions League clash with Liverpool at Anfield earlier this month.

The incident unfolded after Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time winner sealed a 3-2 victory for the Reds. Simeone appeared to be provoked by a section of home supporters, sparking a heated exchange that required stewards to step in. The Argentine continued his protests at the fourth official before being shown a red card and ushered down the tunnel.

UEFA’s punishment means the 55-year-old will miss Atletico’s home tie against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday night. He will be banned from the dugout, tunnel and dressing room, and regulations further prohibit him from “communicating directly with the team’s players and/or technical staff” while serving the sanction.

Reflecting on the controversy after the game, Simeone admitted he regretted how he reacted. “Firstly I regret the part I played. It’s clear we are in a position where we do not have the right to react and it is not good when we react,” he told reporters.

The former Argentina midfielder said he struggled to recall the precise trigger but highlighted what he described as persistent abuse from the stands. “I could not remember exactly what had been, but I took issue with the insults throughout the whole game,” Simeone explained.

He went on to call for more protection for managers from sustained verbal abuse. “We [managers] are in a position where we are protagonists, standard bearers. So in the same manner that we fight against racism and insults in stadiums today, we could also fight on behalf of the managers, against the insults we receive throughout the whole game,” he said..

“It’s not easy to be in the position we are in and receive insults for the whole game. I saw it from far away after the third goal. I saw the third goal go in and I turned, the insults continued, and well, I’m a person.”

Liverpool were also punished by UEFA, receiving a €4,000 fine after objects were thrown from the stands during the heated encounter.

Source: Naijanews