UEFA is considering a formal investigation after a member of Atletico Madrid’s staff was allegedly caught on camera spitting in the direction of Liverpool supporters during a chaotic and fiery end to Wednesday’s Champions League match at Anfield.
The incident occurred in the aftermath of a dramatic 3-2 win for Liverpool, sealed by a last-minute Virgil van Dijk goal. The match was marred by a major altercation that saw Atletico manager Diego Simeone shown a red card after a confrontation with a fan.
The tension boiled over after Van Dijk’s winning goal in injury time. As celebrations erupted, Atletico boss Diego Simeone, who had been the target of verbal abuse throughout the match, turned and engaged in a heated exchange with a supporter in the Main Stand.
Simeone had to be physically restrained by stewards and his own coaching staff. In the midst of this commotion, a video filmed from the lower Main Stand and widely shared on social media appears to show a different Atletico staff member turning and seemingly spitting towards the crowd.
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UEFA Confirms Review of Incident
European football’s governing body, UEFA, has confirmed its disciplinary body will review all reports from the match officials and the match delegate before deciding on any potential charges against the Spanish club.
The alleged spitting incident could fall under UEFA’s regulations concerning “improper conduct” of players and officials.
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Simeone Explains His Reaction
After the match, Simeone defended his emotional reaction, stating he felt provoked after enduring insults throughout the game.
“We are in a place where we don’t have a right to reply or react, do we? It’s never very good when we react as managers, is it? We are the people on the stage out there and need to behave well. But we can get angry and fight back as well, managers, from the place that we are to how we are getting insulted all of the game.
“When they scored the third goal, he turned around and insulted me, when I turned around, I am a person and I’m human.”
While the focus was on Simeone’s sending-off, the more serious alleged act of spitting by a staff member is now set to come under UEFA’s microscope.
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