Diego Simeone given three-game touchline ban in La Liga
Wednesday 27 April 2016 14:44, UK
Diego Simeone has been given a three-game La Liga touchline ban after an extra ball was thrown onto the pitch from Atletico Madrid's dugout during Saturday's match against Malaga.
The Atleti manager will be on the touchline when his side take on Bayern Munich in their Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday night.
But the Spanish Football Federation have confirmed he will have to watch the final three league games of the season from the stands with Atletico locked in a three-way battle for the title.
They are level on points with Barcelona but sit second due to their inferior head-to-head record against the Catalan side, with Real Madrid a further point back.
Simeone will miss remaining fixtures against Rayo Vallecano, Levante and Celta Vigo.
Atleti beat Malaga 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon thanks to Angel Correa's deflected goal, but only after Simeone had been sent off just before half-time.
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During a Malaga counter-attack a second ball was thrown onto the pitch from the Atletico technical area, interrupting the match.
Replays showed a ball boy may have been responsible, but under league rules the manager is accountable for the actions of those in the technical area.
Simeone accepted the decision after the game, saying: "It's clear that the referee made the right decision as per the regulations.
"He did what he had to do. There's little more that can be said. The images will show it was a boy beside me, but that doesn't mean anything."
Simeone has also been fined 3,005 euros, while Atletico have 10 days to launch an appeal.
