Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone has been suspended for one match by UEFA, following the altercation with Liverpool fans during the 3-2 defeat in the Champions League at Anfield.
The incident occurred after Virgil van Dijk scored the winning goal for Liverpool in the 92nd minute of the match. Simeone, visibly upset, confronted the fans near the Atlético bench.
The sanction, imposed for “unsportsmanlike conduct”, means that Simeone will not be able to be on the bench, nor enter the locker room, nor communicate with his players and coaching staff in the next match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
They insult you throughout the match, behind the bench, and you can’t say anything, because you’re the coach.
Diego Simeone
Simeone argued he had been insulted, which provoked his reaction, but UEFA considered his behavior unjustifiable.
Liverpool were also fined 4,000 euros for the throwing of objects by their fans during the same match.
In the match at Anfield, Atlético found themselves down 2-0 after early goals from Andy Robertson and Mo Salah, but a brace from Marcos Llorente leveled the score before Van Dijk’s goal.
Arbitral Decisions in the Madrid Derby
The Technical Committee of Referees (CTA) of Spain ruled that three key decisions made by the referees during Atlético’s 5-2 victory over Real Madrid were correct.
The CTA review, published on social media, confirmed that referee Javier Alberola acted correctly by not showing a second yellow card to Alexander Sorloth for celebrating his goal. In addition, it validated the penalty in favor of Atlético and the direct free kick goal by Julián Álvarez.
However, the CTA pointed out that Atlético’s captain, Koke, should have been sent off in the previous match against Rayo Vallecano, which would have prevented him from playing the derby.
