Atletico Madrid boss Simeone banned for Europa League final

Dom Farrell

Atletico Madrid boss Simeone banned for Europa League final image

Atletico Madrid will not have head coach Diego Simeone on the touchline for the Europa League final against Marseille after he was handed a four-match ban by UEFA.

Simeone was sent off by referee Clement Turpin during Atleti's 1-1 semi-final first-leg draw against Arsenal last week having continued to harangue the official in the aftermath of Sime Vrsaljko's 10th-minute red card.

The Argentinian tactician was forced to watch Thursday's 1-0 victory over the Gunners from the Wanda Metropolitano stands and that game will serve as the first of four under his suspension.

Should Atleti beat Marseille in Lyon on May 16, Simeone will also be absent for the UEFA Super Cup clash against the Champions League winners and his club's opener in Europe's top competition in 2018-19.

If Marseille prevail, the 48-year-old will miss two Champions League group games next term, with Atleti's place in La Liga's top four already secured.

Simeone was also fined €10,000, the same amount Atleti must pay European football's governing body after a charge against their fans for throwing objects at Emirates Stadium was upheld.

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.