Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was shown a red card in the closing stages of his side’s 3-2 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday night

Diego Simeone, head coach of Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone, head coach of Atletico Madrid(Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is facing a suspension from UEFA after his red card during the Champions League defeat to Liverpool. Arne Slot’s side secured a thrilling 3-2 triumph over the Spanish outfit in their opening league phase game of the Champions League at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah had fired Liverpool into a commanding 2-0 lead within the first six minutes on Merseyside, before Marcos Llorente netted twice to level the contest. Virgil van Dijk clinched victory for the Reds with a decisive header during injury time to bag all three points.

Following Van Dijk’s match-winning effort, referee Maurizio Mariani pointed a red card at Simeone after a furious confrontation with supporters, reports the Liverpool Echo. The Atletico boss was ultimately ordered down the tunnel after confronting the fourth official on the sidelines, forcing him to miss the remaining moments of added time and the final whistle.

READ MORE: Diego Simeone reveals what sparked furious row with Liverpool fans during gameREAD MORE: Diego Simeone SENT OFF after fracas with Liverpool fans following late Virgil van Dijk goal

Simeone’s dismissal will probably result in a suspension from the dugout for the Atletico manager. According to UEFA rules, Simeone faces a one-match touchline suspension following his sending-off at Anfield.

“As a rule, a player or team official sent off by the referee is automatically suspended for the next match in a UEFA club competition (i.e. UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League or UEFA Super Cup),” state UEFA rules.

“In the event of a serious offence, the UEFA disciplinary bodies are entitled to augment this punishment, including by extending it to other competitions.”

During his post-match press conference, Simeone was quizzed about the incident on the touchline following Van Dijk’s match-winning header.

“They always talk about taking care of each other, but they insult you throughout the entire match and you can’t say anything because you’re the manager,” Simeone told reporters on Wednesday night.

“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.”

Diego Simeone cut an animated figure throughout the match against Liverpool before he was sent off(Image: Getty Images)

“(The referee told me) he understood me,” Simeone added. “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.”

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