UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone after he was sent off following an altercation with Liverpool fans at Anfield during their Champions League clash last week.
Liverpool have also been charged by European football’s governing body over their fans throwing objects during their 3-2 victory.
Virgil van Dijk scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute, with Simeone appearing to be angered by home supporters sitting near the dugout. Broadcast footage showed the 55-year-old twice going over to the same section, having to be restrained by multiple stewards and members of the Atletico coaching staff.
Simeone appeared to gesture back in the direction of the stands while walking towards the fourth official before being shown a straight red card by referee Maurizio Mariani.
Video footage on social media also appeared to show other Atletico staff members confronting Liverpool supporters, including a bottle being thrown in the direction of the crowd. Following the game, The Athletic reported that Atletico were to conduct a review into the events, including one of their staff members appearing to spit in the direction of the crowd.
Simeone told Spanish broadcaster Movistar after the game that his actions were “not justifiable”.
“There is a lot of talk about taking care, but they (fans) were shouting insults through the whole game from behind the bench,” Simeone said. “And I cannot say anything as I am a coach. Obviously, my reaction is not justifiable, I insulted him. But it was 90 minutes of being insulted the whole time.
“Then you turn around, when your opponent has scored, and they are still insulting you. It is not that easy.”
“The referee understood the situation. I hope that a team like Liverpool can improve that part. When they identify the person who did this, it should have consequences. But he who needs to stay calm, and take the insults, is me. In my place, you just have to take it.”
Simeone has been banned from the touchline in European competition before. In 2018, he was sent off in the first leg of his side’s Europa League semi-final against Arsenal. He subsequently watched Atletico’s 1-0 win in the second leg, 3-0 victory in the final over Marseille and 4-2 win over rivals Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup from the stands.
Atletico host Bundesliga team Eintracht Frankfurt in their second league phase game of the Champions League on September 30 before making the trip to London to face Arsenal on September 21.
(Photo: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
