Simeone Explains Anfield Altercation After Late Liverpool Winner

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was sent off late in his side's Champions League loss to Liverpool after clashing with home supporters, citing insults he received throughout the match.

18 sept 2025 - 00:38 • 2 min read

Diego Simeone, the manager of Atletico Madrid, was ejected from the match at Anfield following a confrontation with Liverpool fans. The incident occurred after Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk scored a late winning goal in the Champions League fixture. Simeone appeared to react after being goaded by a section of the home crowd, leading to a heated exchange that required intervention from stewards and officials.

In the post-match press conference, Simeone stated that he regretted his reaction but explained it was a response to "insults for the whole game." He described the experience of being insulted for 90 minutes as difficult and suggested that measures should be taken to address such behavior directed at managers, similar to efforts against racism in stadiums. He indicated he had spoken with the referee, Maurizio Mariani, who he felt understood the situation.

The match itself was a dramatic affair, with Liverpool initially taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah. Atletico Madrid managed to fight back and equalize with two goals from Marcos Llorente. However, Van Dijk's powerful header in the 92nd minute secured a 3-2 victory for Liverpool, sending the home crowd at Anfield into a frenzy.

Simeone's Past Ejections

This was not the first time Simeone has been sent off in a European competition. He was previously ejected from a Europa League semi-final in 2018 against Arsenal at the Emirates stadium. That incident involved an altercation with referee Turpin.

Simeone could face a suspension ranging from one to four matches. The final decision on any disciplinary action will depend on the details recorded in the referee's official match report. The intensity and nature of the reported insults could influence the severity of any penalty imposed.

Atletico Madrid's next Champions League match is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30. They are set to host Frankfurt from Germany in their second group stage fixture of the competition.