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Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone slammed Liverpool fans for hurling insults at him during a 3-2 defeat on Wednesday night, and new footage of his clash with a home supporter has surfaced.
Simeone was shown a straight red card moments after Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scored a 92nd-minute winner at Anfield. While Simeone was frustrated as Atleti saw a hard-earned point slip away, he had a tense exchange with a Liverpool fan and took his anger out on UEFA officials.
The Atleti head coach was sent off and produced a rude hand gesture to the fourth official as he complained about a Liverpool fan sitting behind the dugout. New footage shows his whole interaction with a UEFA official before being giving his marching orders at Anfield.
The fan appeared to hurl abuse at Simeone and the Atleti players after Marcos Llorente equalized in the 81st minute. Then, as Van Dijk secured a dramatic victory, the fan had another interaction with Simeone, but this time the coach responded.
Simeone was held back by security as he confronted the fan, and was later sent off after a furious exchange with officials. After the game, Simeone called out the Liverpool fans and claimed he was not entitled to react despite being targeted all game.
"Let's start with my part," Simeone said. "We're in a position where we don't have the right to react. It's not right when we react, because we're the protagonists.
"But in the same way we fight against racism and insults directed at players, the benches are packed, and it's not easy to take insults all game. The third goal came, and besides the insults, there was a gesture, and I'm a person.
"I'm not going to go into detail about the insults. From my perspective, I have to maintain my position, deal with everything that happens behind the bench, and until society can resolve it, any coach has to live with it because it happens all the time."
Simeone then admitted that his actions were inappropriate, but pleaded for sympathy due to his position. "There's always talk about caring, about respect... but they insult you from behind the scenes the whole game," Simeone added.
"I can't say anything because I'm the coach. My reaction isn't justifiable, but after 90 minutes of insults, it's not easy.
"The referee told me he understood the situation. Hopefully Liverpool can improve on that aspect, and when they identify the person who did that, there will be consequences.
"Insults all game long. And gestures too. I'm the one who has to stay calm, and I have to put up with the gestures, the insults, any situation. Why? Because I'm in a position where I have to put up with it."
While Atleti was denied a precious point in the Champions League, Simeone was proud of his players and was content with the performance. "When the result doesn't come, beyond remembering the missing players, no one cares," he said.
"You're left with the final result. But knowing the path we're on, I'm happy, well, with the spirit I want from our players. We can lose, and if we have to lose, let it be this way."
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