The dust has yet to settle on Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, but UEFA have now stepped in with their verdict.
A stoppage-time header from Virgil van Dijk sparked wild celebrations at Anfield, yet the final whistle brought scenes that overshadowed the football.
Diego Simeone’s furious reaction to Liverpool fans and the behaviour of sections of the crowd have now drawn punishments from European football’s governing body.
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UEFA confirm sanctions for Simeone and Liverpool
The heated clash ended in chaos when Simeone, incensed by verbal exchanges with supporters behind the dugout, had to be restrained by his own staff before being shown a red card.
UEFA has since ruled that the Atletico boss will serve a one-match ban for unsporting conduct, keeping him out of his side’s crucial home fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt (via reports by BBC).
Liverpool, meanwhile, were not spared. The club received a €4,000 fine after objects were thrown from the stands towards the Atletico bench during the closing stages of the match.
UEFA’s disciplinary panel requested CCTV footage from Anfield to aid their investigation, ultimately determining that the Reds also bore responsibility for the flashpoints that marred the game.
The governing body’s sanctions underline UEFA’s zero-tolerance approach to both touchline misconduct and crowd behaviour.
For Simeone, the ban adds another chapter to his fiery relationship with English clubs, while Liverpool now face a warning shot over fan conduct in future European nights at Anfield.
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