Simeone in HEATED row with journalist over Alvarez penalty controversy | OneFootball

Atletico boss Diego Simeone was involved in a heated row with a journalist over the controversial penalty incident which led to their Champions League elimination.

Julian Alvarez was adjudged to have accidentally double-kicked his penalty in the shootout, which Real Madrid eventually won as Antonio Rudiger squeezed home the decisive kick.

The incident overshadowed Atletico’s incredible defensive rearguard which saw them deny the reigning Champions League holders for 120 minutes, after they levelled the tie through Connor Gallagher inside the first minute.

Simeone was keen to remain positive despite Atletico’s elimination but when provoked by a Spanish reporter, the Argentine barely kept his composure, asking members of the media to raise their hands if they saw Alvarez double-kick his penalty.

“I have a question for you all here,” Simeone addressed.

“Did you guys see it? Did you see it? Did he or didn’t he touch the ball? Don’t be afraid to speak. Are you afraid because you’re going to be punished?

“If you’re afraid, don’t say anything. Raise your hand if you think Julian knocked twice. No one? No one. Okay.

“Honestly, I won’t lie to you, being eliminated the way we’ve been is not an easy thing to accept.”

Simeone continued: “I just saw the image of the penalty. The referee said that when Julian stepped and kicked, he touched the ball with his foot, but the ball didn’t move. That’s something to discuss about whether it was a goal or not, but I’m proud of my players.

“When he plants his foot and kicks, the ball doesn’t move even a little bit. But if VAR called it, I’ve never seen a penalty called by VAR, but it’s still valid, and they’ll have seen that he touched it. I want to believe they’ll have seen that he touched it.”