Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone – who earns over £20m-a-year – fined £17,000 for ‘cojones’ celebration against Juventus
- Diego Simeone celebrated in controversial style after Jose Gimenez goal
- Simeone grabbed his crotch and turned to the crowd, resulting in UEFA fine
- He said after the match: ‘It’s not a nice gesture but I felt the need to do it’
- Simeone recently signed a deal to make him the best paid manager in the world
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has been fined 20,000 euro (£17,000) by UEFA for improper conduct following his behaviour in last month’s Champions League match against Juventus.
Simeone turned towards fans and grabbed his crotch after Jose Maria Gimenez opened the scoring in a 2-0 win on February 20.
The fine will be a drop in the ocean for the Argentine who is the world’s best-paid manager having signed a new contract worth more than £20million-a-year.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone grabs his crotch during his celebration against Juventus
Simeone recently signed a new deal to tie him to the club until 2022, ensuring he earns more than any of Atletico’s players.
Explaining his celebration, Simeone said after the game: ‘I did it as a player in Lazio against Bologna and I did it again to show our fans that we have cojones.
‘It wasn’t aimed at the other team, I was turning towards our own supporters.
‘It’s not a nice gesture, I admit, but I felt the need to do it. It was such a tough game, we fought so hard and Diego Costa worked really hard when he wasn’t 100 per cent fit.
‘To put in Costa and Koke after so long out you must have balls.
Simeone explained that he ‘felt the need to do it’ after his controversial celebration
‘I had to show what I was feeling. I can only apologise if anyone was offended, but I did it from the heart.’
Atletico have also been fined 38,000 euro (£32,000) after their fans threw objects and blocked stairways at Wanda Metropolitano.
Juventus have been fined 30,000 (£27,000) and manager Massimiliano Allegri warned after his players arrived late for the kick-off.