Manchester United are reviewing CCTV from Old Trafford to try and identify the fans who threw objects at Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone on Tuesday night.
Simeone was pelted with bottles and other objects as he ran down the tunnel following Atleti’s 1-0 win over United in the Champions League. The home fans were furious with what they saw as underhand tactics from the Spanish side, who progressed to the quarter-finals 2-1 on aggregate.
United are now pouring over video from the stadium to try and identify the supporters who were responsible. If found, the United fans face a three-year stadium ban for throwing objects towards the field of play.
Simeone did not stop to shake hands with Ralf Rangnick and United’s coaching staff, instead sprinting straight for the tunnel in the corner of the ground. He later explained that he did not even acknowledge the animosity towards him.
"No, when I came off the pitch, I ran because I was happy and I like to enjoy it in the dressing room,” he replied when asked about the incident. “So I don’t know what happened. What you just said, all I was thinking about was getting into the changing room to the dressing room, and I was really happy."
Simeone may not have noticed but former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara certainly did before slamming those involved. “Can I just say, Diego Simeone leaving the pitch… Man United fans, some of you should be ashamed of yourselves,” O’Hara said on talkSPORT.
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"Throwing things at the manager as he’s trying to run down the tunnel, acceptable. [They] should be banned.
“More needs to be done with this because I’m sick of seeing it. Ever since we’ve been back from Covid and had fans back in the ground, why all of a sudden that fans think they can throw things at players, at managers, it’s not good enough. It’s unacceptable and it has got to stop. We need harsher punishments because I’m seeing it way too much.”
The incident provided a sour end to a disappointing night for United, who are now left to focus on trying to finish in the top four in the Premier League. Rangnick’s side are currently in fifth place, a point behind Arsenal who can extend their lead when they face Liverpool on Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium.
Renan Lodi’s header in the 41st minute gave Atleti a lead which they rarely looked like surrendering. United mustered little in the final third, with Raphael Varane’s header that was saved by Jan Oblak the closest they came to finding an equaliser.
Rangnick admitted he was frustrated by the performance of referee Slavko Vinic, as well as Atleti’s time wasting. “There were some curious refereeing decisions, I wouldn’t necessarily say decisive – maybe the one they scored,” he said. “I believe it was a foul on Anthony Elanga, the referee and linesman didn’t see it that way. He (Vinic) made it pretty easy for Atlético to do their time-wasting antics and it didn’t make it any easier for us.”
