Liverpool beating Atletico Madrid led to Diego Simeone seeing red at Anfield for confronting supporters in the crowd after Virgil van Dijk scored the late winner
19:01, 18 Sep 2025Updated 19:03, 18 Sep 2025
Diego Simeone had plenty to say during and after the match(Image: Phil Oldham/Shutterstock)
The fallout from Diego Simeone seeing red at Anfield after Virgil van Dijk scored a late winner for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid continues.. Italian referee Maurizio Mariani sent off the opposition head coach after confronting supporters in the lower Main Stand on Wednesday night.
Simeone receives an automatic one-match suspension for being shown a red card and will miss their next match at home to Eintracht Frankfurt later this month. However, Article 63 (1) of the Champions League regulations states that “the UEFA disciplinary bodies are entitled to augment this punishment”.
That ability, though, depends on whether UEFA deem it a serious offence. Should they, then the coach’s suspension could extend to other competitions – here’s a look at the latest:
UEFA investigation latest
UEFA are poised to launch an investigation into a member of the Atletico staff after a Liverpool supporter accused them of spitting towards to crowd. Footage appears to corroborate that version of events, with a staff member seemingly seen spitting towards a group of fans.
The governing body of football in Europe are now considering whether to investigate further, with their disciplinary board assessing reports from the game, including those from the match delegate and referee, before deciding on any potential next steps. The former Liverpool player spat at a Celtic fan in March 2003 and was banned for two games by UEFA before being fined £5,000 after pleading guilty to assault. The club fined him two weeks’ wages, reportedly around £60,000.
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Simeone on altercation
Simeone addressed the situation during his press conference, which he miay not have attended after being sent off, but chose to. “They always talk about taking care of each other,” the Atletico coach said, “but they insult you throughout the entire match, and you can’t say anything because you’re the manager.
“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.
“There were insults throughout the match, including gestures. 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.”
Supporter speaks out
Liverpool fan Jonny Poulter, who claims to have been involved in the incident, has shared his version of events in a video shared on social media. “Something I want to get off my chest in regards to what happened last night with Simeone,” Poulter said.
“I think he’s a bit of a coward. When he went and did his press conference after the game, the Spanish media asked what was said, whether it was racist, regarding the Falklands War and all this rubbish.
“There was nothing racist said, no mention of the Falklands war by me or anyone else. But the fact that he was asked and didn’t answer and just walked out has left it open to speculation across the world.
“I’ve had messages on every platform from people asking what I said. I never said anything apart from [gesture with middle finger] ‘f*** off, we’ve won’…as you do.
“When they scored the equaliser, his assistant was giving it to us, and he was called a ‘sh**house’ and whatever else. And his assistant manager then came over and spat at me.”
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