The Liverpool fan who got Simeone sent off at Anfield shares legendary post online
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Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has admitted regret over an altercation with a Liverpool fan during their Champions League match at Anfield, where Liverpool won 3-2 with a stoppage-time goal from Virgil van Dijk. The Argentine revealed that he had been subjected to abusive insults from the fan for the entire 90 minutes of the game, leading to his emotional reaction after the late goal.
Speaking after the match, Simeone emphasized that managers, despite their professional roles, are still human and not immune to being affected by such behavior. He called on Liverpool to take responsibility and implement consequences for the fan involved once identified. Simeone stated, “We [managers] are in a position where we are protagonists/standard bearers, so in the same manner that we fight against racism and insults in stadiums today, we could also fight on behalf of the managers, against the insults we receive throughout the whole game.”
He acknowledged that while managers are expected to withstand such provocations, the constant stream of insults during the match was difficult to endure. Simeone admitted his reaction wasn’t justifiable but asked for empathy, saying, “Do you know what it is like to be insulted for 90 minutes? I hope Liverpool can improve that aspect and that when they identify the person who did that, there will be consequences.”
The incident followed a tumultuous end to the game where Simeone was shown a red card after a heated confrontation with some Liverpool supporters near the touchline. He refrained from repeating the specific insults but indicated they contributed to his frustration during the intense match.
Simeone’s comments highlight ongoing concerns about fan behavior and the treatment of managers during games, urging clubs and governing bodies to extend protections beyond players and officials to include coaching staff as well.
PP