Man Utd investigate Diego Simeone bottle-throwing incident as fans face three-year ban

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.

"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