Diego Simeone clashed with a Liverpool fan when Atletico Madrid last played in England - and he'll be prowling the Emirates Stadium touchline on Tuesday night when his side face Arsenal.
Nathan Ridley
21:15, 20 Oct 2025
Arsenal are preparing to take on Atletico Madrid.
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Arsenal are preparing to take on Atletico Madrid.(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Arsenal will not provide extra security for Diego Simeone, despite the Atletico Madrid manager's clash with a Liverpool fan last month. Simeone, 55, was shown a red card and given a one-match touchline ban after confronting a Liverpool supporter who was goading him after Virgil van Dijk's 92nd-minute winner in the teams' Champions League clash.
The Argentine apologised for his behaviour, but he had to watch from the stands as his side beat Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in their next European fixture. Their third Champions League game of the season comes at the Emirates on Tuesday night, and Arsenal have made a decision on whether to provide additional security.
A report from The Sun explains that the Gunners won't beef up their security, as club chiefs don't anticipate a similar incident to the one at Anfield. There's also a difference in how the two stadiums are set up.
The away dugout at the Emirates Stadium is situated further from the home supporters compared to where the visiting side are housed at Anfield. It all kicked off with Simeone when he reacted angrily to Van Dijk's winner.
Atletico's manager had to be held back from a group of Liverpool's fans, by both stewards and his own coaching staff, having targeted one supporter in a heated exchange. UEFA subsequently charged Simeone with 'unsporting conduct'.
"Firstly I regret the part I played," the 55-year-old admitted post-match. "It's clear we are in a position where we do not have the right to react and it is not good when we react.
Simeone got into an altercation with a Liverpool supporter.
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Simeone got into an altercation with a Liverpool supporter.(Image: Getty Images)
"It's not easy to be in the position we are in and receive insults for the whole game. I saw it from far away - after the third goal. I saw the third goal go in and I turned, the insults continued, and well, I'm a person."
Mikel Arteta can't wait to come up against Simeone for the first time in his managerial career. "What he has done since he got to Atletico has been outstanding, not only what has achieved, but in the way he has done it," Arteta remarked.
"The identity he has created, they are simple and clear to identify because the manager is very much them. That's very difficult to achieve, he's been there 14 years and what he's done is incredible.
"He is someone that I look up to. His passion, how long he has been in the game, how he still has that capacity to transmit a willingness to win. To keep convincing players in this environment, you have to be extraordinarily good."
Arsenal are looking to maintain their perfect record in Europe this season after starting with wins against Athletic Bilbao and Olympiacos. The Gunners have won their last five games in all competitions.
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