Diego Simeone (foto: Posnetek zaslona)
Diego Simeone erupted in frustration after Atlético Madrid's Champions League exit, questioning the VAR intervention that ruled out Julián Álvarez’s penalty.
Diego Simeone was visibly furious during his post-match press conference after Atlético Madrid’s Champions League elimination, raging over the disallowed penalty taken by Julián Álvarez. The Argentine striker slipped and touched the ball twice, leading VAR officials to intervene and nullify the goal, an action that left Simeone in disbelief.
Simeone's press room outburst
The Atlético Madrid boss claimed he had never witnessed VAR interfering in a penalty shootout, and demanded answers from the journalists in attendance.
"Has anyone here actually seen Julián Álvarez touch the ball twice? Raise your hands! Who raised their hand? Come on, come on. Who raised their hand? Who? Okay, let me ask differently—did Julián touch the ball twice? No one lifted their hand!" Simeone exclaimed.
His frustration was evident as he questioned the legitimacy of the decision, arguing that such calls had never been made before in a shootout. Despite Atlético still having a chance to recover in the shootout, Simeone believed that momentum had shifted decisively against his team due to the ruling.
Courtois fires back
The drama didn’t end with Simeone’s press conference, as Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois later responded to his former coach’s complaints, stating:
"I'm tired of him always playing the victim and constantly whining about these things," Courtois remarked.
With tensions escalating between Madrid’s rival clubs, Simeone’s reaction is likely to keep the debate alive over the controversial decision.