Ban Simeone could face after Liverpool altercation, UEFA to investigate spitting

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone made the headlines on Wednesday night despite their 3-2 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in their Champions League debut. Simeone’s altercation, albeit one that did not get going, with a fan in the crowd was the main talking point after the game.

After Liverpool fan Jonathan Luke Poulter had spent the game insulting him and his players, Simeone was keen to settle the score after Virgil van Dijk scored a late winner. The incident, which saw one of Simeone’s staff members appear to spit at the crowd, ended with Simeone being sent off.

Following a red card, Simeone is likely to face a one-game ban at a minimum, as per MD. The Atletico manager is also liable to face a fine, which Cadena SER say could be worth €20k, but could be as high as €50k. While his punishment hinges on the referee’s report, Simeone is likely to face a maximum ban of three games, but former referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez noted that he felt it probable that Simeone would be given a suspended ban, as was the case with Barcelona’s Hansi Flick.

The ban would see Simeone prohibited from entering the dressing room at the Metropolitano, when Atletico are next in European action against Eintracht Frankfurt. After that clash, Atletico travel to the Emirates to take on Arsenal, and then host Union St. Gilloise.

The Liverpool fan in question, Jonathan Luke Poulter, followed up on his insults towards Simeone with a video on Thursday, calling the Atletico coach a coward. Poulter, who has been banned for three years, clarified that his insults towards Simeone had no racial element.

Meanwhile UEFA are also set to investigate Poulter’s accusations that Atletico nutritionist David Lagos spat at Liverpool fans, as video appeared to show. That is according to The Times, who say that Liverpool will be asked to provide CCTV footage of the incident. It is not yet clear what repercussions Los Rojiblancos and Lagos could face as a result.