Diego Simeone appeared to push Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta on the touchline during his side's Champions League semi-final second leg defeat, having been sent off at Anfield earlier in the season
08:59, 06 May 2026Updated 09:04, 06 May 2026
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone appeared to push Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta on the touchline
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone appeared to push Arsenal's sporting director Andrea Berta on the touchline
Diego Simeone was involved in a heated exchange with Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta towards the closing stages of the Gunners' Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
The Atletico boss grew increasingly agitated on the sidelines as his side desperately sought an equalizer at the Emirates Stadium. Tensions reached boiling point when Berta, who previously spent over 12 years working with Simeone at Atleti, attempted to attract the attention of referee Daniel Siebert.
With the match deep into the fifth minute of added time, Berta appeared keen for Siebert to bring proceedings to a close, a move that clearly didn't sit well with the Atletico manager. Simeone stormed across from his technical area to confront the visibly animated Arsenal official before seemingly shoving him towards the tunnel area.
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Personnel from both clubs intervened to separate the pair before the UEFA fourth official stepped in to defuse the situation. Simeone subsequently returned to his dugout, issuing tactical instructions to his players as they pressed for a leveller, reports the Mirror.
The incident comes after Simeone landed himself in hot water after getting himself sent off against Liverpool in the opening game of the same competition this season.
The Atletico boss was shown a red card after reacting angrily to supporters behind the away dugout following Virgil van Dijk’s late winner at Anfield in September. Simeone was hit with a one-game ban as a result, while Liverpool was hit with a small fine.
Diego Simeone clashes with Liverpool fans after Virgil van Dijk's winner against Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone clashed with Liverpool fans after Virgil van Dijk's winner against Atletico Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
Reacting after his side’s defeat to Arsenal, Simeone told Amazon Prime: “Whoever wins is always the best team (over two games). They won it and congratulations to them. Of course, we are sad and angry but that's football.
"The second half was good. Maybe we showed them a little bit too much respect in the first and were afraid to play. It was good after that but not enough to progress to the final.
“It's unlucky for us and we're upset but it's life. Arsenal were better and they're in the final."
Atletico were chasing the game, trailing 2-1 on aggregate and 1-0 on the evening following Bukayo Saka's first-half strike for Arsenal. Saka converted from close quarters after Jan Oblak could only parry Leandro Trossard's attempt.
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Despite opportunities falling to Giuliano Simeone and Alexander Sorloth in the second period, Simeone's men couldn't find the breakthrough, ultimately bowing out at the semi-final stage. As for Arsenal, it marks its first Champions League final in 20 years, with the Gunners set to face the winner of the other semi-final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest later this month.
Speaking after the match, Declan Rice shared his thoughts on the result and the atmosphere in the Arsenal dressing room following their historic victory. "It is chaos [in the dressing room]," Rice told Amazon Prime. "I don't think you can underestimate what we have done in this competition up to this point.
"I think we have every right to celebrate that moment. The most prestigious competition in club football. We are just trying to soak it all in.
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"We knew coming into the game what was at stake. If you can't get up for that, then you can't get up for any game of football. When we went 1-0 up, I knew we were going to win. I could feel something special building."