Simeone banned for rest of Liga season
The Atletico Madrid boss has been given a three-match ban by the
RFEF, meaning he will miss his side's final three league games
Diego Simeone has been given a three-game touchline ban
which will see him sit out the remainder of Atletico Madrid's
league season.
The
Argentine was sent to the stands during his side's 1-0 win over Malaga last
Saturday after a ball was thrown onto the pitch from the technical area,
interrupting a counter-attack from the visitors at the Vicente Calderon.
Simeone
denied he had thrown the ball himself but accepted that referee Antonio Mateu
Lahoz followed correct procedure in sending him to the stands for the second
half.
"It's
clear that the referee made the right decision as per the regulations. He did
what he had to do. There's little more that can be said," the 45-year-old
said after the match.
"It
was a boy beside me [who threw the ball], but that doesn't mean anything."
However,
the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has taken a dim view of the incident and
opted to suspend Simeone for three matches, meaning he will not be present in
the Atleti dug-out for the remainder of their title run-in – though he still
has the option to appeal.
According
to RFEF regulations, Simeone - as head coach of the team - is culpable for the
disruption of the match as the referee was unable to identify the
perpetrator who threw the ball.
Atletico,
who are level on points with Liga leaders Barcelona, face Rayo Vallecano,
Levante and Celta Vigo in their final three games.