August 26 – Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has been handed an eight-match ban for his antics during the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup against rivals Real.
The temperamental Simeone, no stranger to controversy, tapped the fourth official on the back of the head after a heated exchange and was initially slapped with a four-game ban by the Spanish Football Federation.
A further two games were then added for protesting plus one each for sarcastically applauding being red-carded and then remaining in the stands and refusing to leave.
The Argentine was dismissed midway through the first half for complaining that Atletico right-back Juanfran had not been allowed back on to the field quickly enough after receiving treatment for a facial injury.
Simeone, who led Atletico Madrid to their first La Liga title since 1996 last season and added the Super Cup title with a 2-1 aggregate victory, has apologised and says he overreacted. “When you commit an error you have to ask for forgiveness and I accept it was an error. I exaggerated in trying to get Juanfran on.”
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