Atletico Madrid Manager 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 counterattack from the visiting side 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 dugout for the remainder of the 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, which is level on points with Liga leader Barcelona, faces Rayo Vallecano, Levante and Celta Vigo in the final three games.