Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been hit with a three-match touchline ban after a ball was thrown onto the pitch during a Malaga counter-attack, reports Spanish newspaper Sport.
Simeone was caught on camera appearing to instruct a ball boy to throw a ball onto the pitch as Malaga were on the break with Atletico short of personnel at the back.
The fiery Argentine manager was then sent off by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz and forced to watch Atletico hold on to a 1-0 win and remain level with league leaders Barcelona.
Simeone will now, however, have to watch Atletico’s three remaining league matches against Rayo Vallecano, Levante and Celta Vigo from the stands. He is free to take to the dugouts in both legs of their Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern Munich, however.
Atletico have conceded at least 13 fewer goals than any other team in La Liga this season (16) and it will be a real test of how well organised they are without Simeone barking instructions from the touchline in their remaining matches of the season.
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